Though a cool day
The spring sunshine,
Was hot through the glass
And combined with the
wine
And an excellent lunch
It wouldn’t be long
methinks
Before I slowly
succumbed
To the long blinks
Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 January 2022
SUCCUMBING
Monday, 18 October 2021
Uncanny Tales – (009) Spring was in the air
Spring was certainly in the air on that beautiful early Spring weekend, and what wonderful weather it was, made all the nicer after the long drawn out winter that preceded it, which probably seemed that much longer than it was because we had had no summer to speak of the previous year.
Anyway, the weather
was so nice that after breakfast I left my wife in bed reading the Sundays and
I set off for a good long walk around the village and its environs.
As I enjoyed the warm
Spring sunshine, I noticed the many harbingers of the season such as the
daffodils nodding in the breeze, birdsong everywhere and endless parades of
cyclists along the lanes punctuated only by the occasional car towing a
caravan.
After a couple of
strenuous hours, I had worked up something of a sweat as well as a thirst to
match, so I headed towards home, but because of the thirst I thought I might
just have a cool refreshing beer at the village pub on the way.
However once I reached
the pub I soon realised I was not the only one to have that idea and I had to
negotiate my way through piles of abandoned bikes and was then greeted by the
scene of a packed beer garden full of people showing far too much white flesh
than was good for anyone which had the effect of slaking my thirst.
So I decided to give
it a miss after all and went home early instead, where I could enjoy a cold
beer in my own garden, but when I entered my house I discovered that my
neighbour Gerry, had not only entered the house before me but had also entered
my wife, and more than once by the look of the pair of them and I was
immediately struck with by the thought that their actions had rendered me the
first cuckold of Spring.
Sunday, 3 October 2021
Uncanny Tales – (046) The April Showers
The lightning struck, intensely bright, followed in almost the same instance by the thunderclap directly overhead, so loud that it shook the car and then the rain began and fell heavily in large drops beating a frantic tune on the car roof, then almost as quickly as the dark skies arrived, they were gone and the sun was out again, although it was a few moments before the April shower stopped completely and a rainbow appeared in the sky.
We were parked by the village green, which was
patterned with strips of freshly cut grass and when we got out of the car the
mixture of sun, rain and cut grass produced a smell that was quite
intoxicating.
We locked the car and headed down the lane and as if
the switch on a great sound system had been flicked on, the bird life in the
trees bordering the green exploded into a cacophony of sound as they emerged
from their shelters to go about their spring business.
We turned off the lane into the woods where nature and
man had both left their mark.
The areas that had once been coppiced or pollarded now
went their own way and the woods were full of life.
On the borders of the woods the old cut and lay hedge
and the ancient hedgerows along the lanes teamed with a great abundance of life
of all kinds.
A sobering reflection on this idyllic scene is that
all the visible life was either predator or prey but that did not detract from
its beauty in fact it enhanced it if anything.
However the skies darkened again and the rain started
to fall and we had to make a dash for the car, but by the time we reached the
car we were soaked to the skin and we quickly scrabbled into the car as if
fearful we would get even wetter if indeed that were even possible.
Just as I closed the door the lightning struck again
and then the thunder shook the car violently once more.
What a wonderful and remarkable time spring is
wherever you are but in the British Isles the unpredictability transforms,
almost in a heartbeat, from tranquillity to chaos and back again, and you know
I don’t think I would want to live anywhere else.
Sunday, 19 September 2021
21st CENTURY NURSERY RHYMES # 431
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
Followed by an average winter
Then he had an indifferent spring
Leading to the most glorious summer
Wednesday, 2 August 2017
True Nature # 11
FOOTSTEPS IN THE FROST
A beautiful winter’s morning
When mist conceals the sunrise,
And nestles between
The frosty shadows of the trees,
And footsteps crunch
Through the crystal patterns
Of the crisp hoar frost
THE HARVEST MOON APPEARS
The harvest moon appears
In an Amethyst sky
The centre piece
Amidst the heavenly array
Of jewelled stars on display
Where such brilliance captivates
With spiritual delight
As you stand in awe
And imagine life
Beyond the stars
IN THE DEPTHS OF PURPLE CLOUDS
In the depths of purple clouds
Soft and temperate as the night
Masks the setting of the sun
And hides the fading of the light
NARWHALE
The narwhale lived year-round
In the Arctic waters around
Greenland, Canada, and Russia
Along with its cousin the Beluga
The narwhale males fished
The waters, and are distinguished
With its long straight helical horn
Like a predatory arctic unicorn
GALES ARE DRIVING WAVES
Gales are driving waves
Against the resilient shore,
And pounding
Them on to the rocks,
While on the edge of the wind
There is distant thunder sounding
SHE WAS A REAL NATURE GIRL
She was a real nature girl
Dancing happily in the meadows
Like a flitting summer sprite
With no thought of cares and woes
As she frolic’s like a lamb all day
Till the lengthening of the shadows
ABOVE THE HORIZON
Above the horizon
The beauty of a sunrise,
Slowly emerges and
Illuminates the sky
And as it spreads into the morn
It burns red on the calm water
As a cool pleasant breeze
Drifts gently across the bay
A beautiful winter’s morning
When mist conceals the sunrise,
And nestles between
The frosty shadows of the trees,
And footsteps crunch
Through the crystal patterns
Of the crisp hoar frost
THE HARVEST MOON APPEARS
The harvest moon appears
In an Amethyst sky
The centre piece
Amidst the heavenly array
Of jewelled stars on display
Where such brilliance captivates
With spiritual delight
As you stand in awe
And imagine life
Beyond the stars
IN THE DEPTHS OF PURPLE CLOUDS
In the depths of purple clouds
Soft and temperate as the night
Masks the setting of the sun
And hides the fading of the light
NARWHALE
The narwhale lived year-round
In the Arctic waters around
Greenland, Canada, and Russia
Along with its cousin the Beluga
The narwhale males fished
The waters, and are distinguished
With its long straight helical horn
Like a predatory arctic unicorn
GALES ARE DRIVING WAVES
Gales are driving waves
Against the resilient shore,
And pounding
Them on to the rocks,
While on the edge of the wind
There is distant thunder sounding
SHE WAS A REAL NATURE GIRL
She was a real nature girl
Dancing happily in the meadows
Like a flitting summer sprite
With no thought of cares and woes
As she frolic’s like a lamb all day
Till the lengthening of the shadows
ABOVE THE HORIZON
Above the horizon
The beauty of a sunrise,
Slowly emerges and
Illuminates the sky
And as it spreads into the morn
It burns red on the calm water
As a cool pleasant breeze
Drifts gently across the bay
Saturday, 11 February 2017
True Nature # 10
IN THE FROST FILLED MEADOW
In the frost filled meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to melt the frost
In the majesty of winter days
NOCTURNAL
Nocturnal creatures scurry
And bats take flight
As the owl stands sentinel
Over a woodland night
IN THE DEWY AUTUMN MEADOW
In the dewy autumn meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of Autumn days
FLAMES OF THE FOREST
Leaves like tongues of fire
Set the scene ablaze
Kenya’s Flame trees
Burning bright in paradise
In the frost filled meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to melt the frost
In the majesty of winter days
NOCTURNAL
Nocturnal creatures scurry
And bats take flight
As the owl stands sentinel
Over a woodland night
IN THE DEWY AUTUMN MEADOW
In the dewy autumn meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of Autumn days
FLAMES OF THE FOREST
Leaves like tongues of fire
Set the scene ablaze
Kenya’s Flame trees
Burning bright in paradise
True Nature # 9
THE FIERCE SPRING GALES
The fierce spring gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The poor souls at sea
On the dark spring night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel it’s savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark spring night
IN THE DEWY SPRING MEADOW
In the dewy spring meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of the spring days
BENEATH THE GREY SKIES
Beneath the grey skies
In the crisp morning air
An over confident fox
Chases after a march Hare
IN A COUNTRY LANE
In a country lane
Where the noise of a highway
Is thought too fanciful
A wagon carries bales of hay
As the farmer heads home
At the end of the day
The fierce spring gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The poor souls at sea
On the dark spring night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel it’s savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark spring night
IN THE DEWY SPRING MEADOW
In the dewy spring meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of the spring days
BENEATH THE GREY SKIES
Beneath the grey skies
In the crisp morning air
An over confident fox
Chases after a march Hare
IN A COUNTRY LANE
In a country lane
Where the noise of a highway
Is thought too fanciful
A wagon carries bales of hay
As the farmer heads home
At the end of the day
Monday, 30 January 2017
True Nature # 8
THE FIERCE WINTER GALES
The fierce winter gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The poor souls at sea
On the dark winter night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel it’s savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark winter night
IN THE DEWY WINTER MEADOW
In the dewy winter meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of winter days
A CAVE
A cave, in the face of the cliff
Like a mouth, wild and mad,
Snarling like a demon
Across the barren land
From where a wind blew
Into the cavernous mouth
and howled like a Ghost
Calling out in despair
AN OAK
An Oak, tall as a cathedral spire
Cast a mighty shadow
As the setting of the sun
Turns the western sky to fire
The fierce winter gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The poor souls at sea
On the dark winter night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel it’s savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark winter night
IN THE DEWY WINTER MEADOW
In the dewy winter meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of winter days
A CAVE
A cave, in the face of the cliff
Like a mouth, wild and mad,
Snarling like a demon
Across the barren land
From where a wind blew
Into the cavernous mouth
and howled like a Ghost
Calling out in despair
AN OAK
An Oak, tall as a cathedral spire
Cast a mighty shadow
As the setting of the sun
Turns the western sky to fire
Saturday, 28 January 2017
True Nature # 7
THE FIERCE SUMMER GALES
The fierce summer gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The poor souls at sea
On the dark summer night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel it’s savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark summer night
IN THE DEWY SUMMER MEADOW
In the dewy summer meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of summer days
BENEATH AZURE BLUE SKIES
Beneath azure blue skies
Beside a silent pool
A bird sings in the stillness
Its sweet song drifting
On the lemon scented breeze
As evening approached
WATERY WORLD
In a river, barely worthy of the name,
Where the gentle water trickles back
Towards a greater watery world,
Lives the humble little stickleback
The fierce summer gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The poor souls at sea
On the dark summer night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel it’s savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark summer night
IN THE DEWY SUMMER MEADOW
In the dewy summer meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Beginning to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of summer days
BENEATH AZURE BLUE SKIES
Beneath azure blue skies
Beside a silent pool
A bird sings in the stillness
Its sweet song drifting
On the lemon scented breeze
As evening approached
WATERY WORLD
In a river, barely worthy of the name,
Where the gentle water trickles back
Towards a greater watery world,
Lives the humble little stickleback
Monday, 2 March 2015
True Nature # 6
THE SUFFOLK PUNCH
The Suffolk Punch
Heavy draught horse
Beautiful Chestnut beast
Solid and dependable
With energetic gait
Known as “good doers”
The Suffolk Punch
Work horse of the land
HEAVEN SENT APRIL SHOWERS
Heaven sent April showers
Will bring the May flowers
And after spring has begun
Soon comes the summer sun
SWEET MEMORIES OF OUR CHILDHOOD # 1
Sweet memories of our childhood
Those days of youth were the best
Golden Septembers in the fields
Gathering the bounty of the harvest
AS THE LENGTHENING DAYS WARM UP
As the lengthening days warm up
When the north is on the cusp
The ice begins to speak or sing
Heralding the arrival of spring
SWEET MEMORIES OF OUR CHILDHOOD # 2
Sweet memories of our childhood
Sunny days bright and pleasant
Cold crisp Novembers on the heath
Beating the bracken for the Pheasant
ON THE PLANTATION
On the plantation
Nothing can be finer
Than a bevy of Quail
In South Carolina
IN THE AUTUMN
In the Autumn
The shoot is very pleasant
And we end the day
With a bevy of pheasant
UP ON THE MOOR
Up on the Moor
The birds take flight
On the glorious 12th
They leave the hill
With a bevy of Grouse
The trappings of wealth
THE SUN BURSTS THROUGH THE CURTAINS
The sun bursts through the curtains
As dawn brings forth another day
And bids us waken from our rest
With every golden warming ray
THE SUFFOLK HORSE
The Suffolk Horse
Heavy draught horse
Beautiful Chestnut beast
Solid and dependable
With energetic gait
Known as “good doers”
The Suffolk Horse
Work horse of the land
IN SHADES OF RED AND ORANGE
In shades of red and orange
The sky burns with fire
Clouds in sunset are illuminated
Like smoke in a funeral pyre
BEYOND THE SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS
Beyond the snow-capped mountains
A brand new dawn breaks
Night moved onward into light
Across the land and the lakes
THEY CLIMB WITH STRENGTH AND GRACE
They climb with strength and grace
And ramble wide and free
They stand alone as Floribunda
Standard or Hybrid Tea
The glorious English rose
Beautiful flower of history
WHEN WINTERS BITE IS TAMED
When winters bite is tamed
Spring brings forth the shoots
Then summer scents the flowers
And the autumn earns the fruits
LET THE WIND HOWL
Let the wind howl
Let the tempest blow
Bring forth the rain
Bring forth the snow
Then let the frost bite
Let the ice crack
Then we can get
The winter sun back
THE SUFFOLK SORREL
The Suffolk Sorrel
Heavy draught horse
Beautiful Chestnut beast
Solid and dependable
With energetic gait
Known as “good doers”
The Suffolk Sorrel
Work horse of the land
The Suffolk Punch
Heavy draught horse
Beautiful Chestnut beast
Solid and dependable
With energetic gait
Known as “good doers”
The Suffolk Punch
Work horse of the land
HEAVEN SENT APRIL SHOWERS
Heaven sent April showers
Will bring the May flowers
And after spring has begun
Soon comes the summer sun
SWEET MEMORIES OF OUR CHILDHOOD # 1
Sweet memories of our childhood
Those days of youth were the best
Golden Septembers in the fields
Gathering the bounty of the harvest
AS THE LENGTHENING DAYS WARM UP
As the lengthening days warm up
When the north is on the cusp
The ice begins to speak or sing
Heralding the arrival of spring
SWEET MEMORIES OF OUR CHILDHOOD # 2
Sweet memories of our childhood
Sunny days bright and pleasant
Cold crisp Novembers on the heath
Beating the bracken for the Pheasant
ON THE PLANTATION
On the plantation
Nothing can be finer
Than a bevy of Quail
In South Carolina
IN THE AUTUMN
In the Autumn
The shoot is very pleasant
And we end the day
With a bevy of pheasant
UP ON THE MOOR
Up on the Moor
The birds take flight
On the glorious 12th
They leave the hill
With a bevy of Grouse
The trappings of wealth
THE SUN BURSTS THROUGH THE CURTAINS
The sun bursts through the curtains
As dawn brings forth another day
And bids us waken from our rest
With every golden warming ray
THE SUFFOLK HORSE
The Suffolk Horse
Heavy draught horse
Beautiful Chestnut beast
Solid and dependable
With energetic gait
Known as “good doers”
The Suffolk Horse
Work horse of the land
IN SHADES OF RED AND ORANGE
In shades of red and orange
The sky burns with fire
Clouds in sunset are illuminated
Like smoke in a funeral pyre
BEYOND THE SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS
Beyond the snow-capped mountains
A brand new dawn breaks
Night moved onward into light
Across the land and the lakes
THEY CLIMB WITH STRENGTH AND GRACE
They climb with strength and grace
And ramble wide and free
They stand alone as Floribunda
Standard or Hybrid Tea
The glorious English rose
Beautiful flower of history
WHEN WINTERS BITE IS TAMED
When winters bite is tamed
Spring brings forth the shoots
Then summer scents the flowers
And the autumn earns the fruits
LET THE WIND HOWL
Let the wind howl
Let the tempest blow
Bring forth the rain
Bring forth the snow
Then let the frost bite
Let the ice crack
Then we can get
The winter sun back
THE SUFFOLK SORREL
The Suffolk Sorrel
Heavy draught horse
Beautiful Chestnut beast
Solid and dependable
With energetic gait
Known as “good doers”
The Suffolk Sorrel
Work horse of the land
Friday, 16 January 2015
True Nature # 5
BEE’S ATTENDED TO THE ROSES
Bee’s attended to the Roses
As Butterflies fluttered by
The great artist mixed his blue
And with it painted the sky
And the sweet scent of lavender
Lingered long on the afternoon air
Should we ask for better?
I don’t think we dare
THE CHAFFINCH
She builds her nest
In the time of spring
And then to find a mate
She must patiently sing
Chaffinch sing your song
So charmingly
From your high branch
Up in the chestnut tree
BABBLING STREAM INTO RIVER
Babbling stream into river
Flows on through the lea
skirting woodland as it winds
On the move constantly
Cutting thru meadow sweet
On its journey to the sea
HERALDING AN APPROACHING STORM
Heralding an approaching storm
Lightening lit the far horizon
As thunder rumbled
Around the valley
Then louder and louder it grew
Closer and closer it came
Until it was overhead
Bee’s attended to the Roses
As Butterflies fluttered by
The great artist mixed his blue
And with it painted the sky
And the sweet scent of lavender
Lingered long on the afternoon air
Should we ask for better?
I don’t think we dare
THE CHAFFINCH
She builds her nest
In the time of spring
And then to find a mate
She must patiently sing
Chaffinch sing your song
So charmingly
From your high branch
Up in the chestnut tree
BABBLING STREAM INTO RIVER
Babbling stream into river
Flows on through the lea
skirting woodland as it winds
On the move constantly
Cutting thru meadow sweet
On its journey to the sea
HERALDING AN APPROACHING STORM
Heralding an approaching storm
Lightening lit the far horizon
As thunder rumbled
Around the valley
Then louder and louder it grew
Closer and closer it came
Until it was overhead
Thursday, 4 September 2014
True Nature # 4
NORTH WESTERN MISSION BELLS
The Mission bells
Blooming herb
Of the north western states
With green-and-purple
Bell-shaped flowers
SOUTH WESTERN MISSION BELL
The Mission bells
Blooming herb
Of the south-western States
With dark purple
Bell-shaped flowers
Mottled with green
CALIFORNIA YELLOW BELLS
California Yellow bells
Inhabiting the arid places
With pendulous bell like
Yellow flowers
Blooming in the desert
YELLOW BELLS
The Yellow bells
The viscid herb
Inhabiting the arid places
With its sticky leaves
And pendulous bell like
Yellow flowers
Blooming in the desert
Of the south-western states
WHISPERING BELLS
Whispering bells
The viscid herb
Inhabiting the arid places
With its sticky leaves
And pendulous bell like
Yellow flowers
Blooming in the desert
Of the south-western states
SWEET BELLS
Sweet bells
Long racemes
Of pinkish flowers
Abundant on
Bushy Deciduous shrubs
Across eastern States
PEACH BELLS
Peach Bells
European perennial
Bellflower with racemose
Of white or blue
BROWN BELLS
Brown bells
Californian herb
With brownish-purple
Bell-shaped flowers
OUR HOUSE WAS POOR
Our house was poor
But the land was rich
Mother Nature’s
Bountiful abundance
Rich in leaf and bud
Enriched in flowers
Many a summers’ day
I lay amongst grasses
And the wild flower stems
In scented meadows
That leaves me dazed
As the summer sun
Set alight the burning gem’s
THE WIND IN THE TREES
The wind in the trees
Sang a sad song
A plaintive sound
Like a crying child
And as it blew through
The crying leaves
On the rainy morn
Shed tears that fell
To the forest floor
TRANQUILLITY DESCENDS
Tranquillity descends
And sunshine reigns
When the storm abates
And peace remains
BETWEEN THE SEASONS
Although the sun
Shone high
In the dying
Summer sky
The east wind,
Strong and shrill
Carried in an
Early autumn chill
DARK CLOUDS CONCEALED
Dark clouds concealed
The firmament
The moon and stars
Still shone
Though not apparent
And heavens jewels
Remained, unseen
DAYLIGHT WAS DECLINING
Daylight was declining
As twilight loomed
As behind the horizon
The sun was consumed
WIND AND TEMPEST
Wind and tempest
Rain and flood
The chimney falls
With a thud
After the lightning storm
And booming thunder
Uprooted trees
Roofs torn asunder
But in the calm
As we convalesce
In the aftermath
There is a cleanness
The Mission bells
Blooming herb
Of the north western states
With green-and-purple
Bell-shaped flowers
SOUTH WESTERN MISSION BELL
The Mission bells
Blooming herb
Of the south-western States
With dark purple
Bell-shaped flowers
Mottled with green
CALIFORNIA YELLOW BELLS
California Yellow bells
Inhabiting the arid places
With pendulous bell like
Yellow flowers
Blooming in the desert
YELLOW BELLS
The Yellow bells
The viscid herb
Inhabiting the arid places
With its sticky leaves
And pendulous bell like
Yellow flowers
Blooming in the desert
Of the south-western states
WHISPERING BELLS
Whispering bells
The viscid herb
Inhabiting the arid places
With its sticky leaves
And pendulous bell like
Yellow flowers
Blooming in the desert
Of the south-western states
SWEET BELLS
Sweet bells
Long racemes
Of pinkish flowers
Abundant on
Bushy Deciduous shrubs
Across eastern States
PEACH BELLS
Peach Bells
European perennial
Bellflower with racemose
Of white or blue
BROWN BELLS
Brown bells
Californian herb
With brownish-purple
Bell-shaped flowers
OUR HOUSE WAS POOR
Our house was poor
But the land was rich
Mother Nature’s
Bountiful abundance
Rich in leaf and bud
Enriched in flowers
Many a summers’ day
I lay amongst grasses
And the wild flower stems
In scented meadows
That leaves me dazed
As the summer sun
Set alight the burning gem’s
THE WIND IN THE TREES
The wind in the trees
Sang a sad song
A plaintive sound
Like a crying child
And as it blew through
The crying leaves
On the rainy morn
Shed tears that fell
To the forest floor
TRANQUILLITY DESCENDS
Tranquillity descends
And sunshine reigns
When the storm abates
And peace remains
BETWEEN THE SEASONS
Although the sun
Shone high
In the dying
Summer sky
The east wind,
Strong and shrill
Carried in an
Early autumn chill
DARK CLOUDS CONCEALED
Dark clouds concealed
The firmament
The moon and stars
Still shone
Though not apparent
And heavens jewels
Remained, unseen
DAYLIGHT WAS DECLINING
Daylight was declining
As twilight loomed
As behind the horizon
The sun was consumed
WIND AND TEMPEST
Wind and tempest
Rain and flood
The chimney falls
With a thud
After the lightning storm
And booming thunder
Uprooted trees
Roofs torn asunder
But in the calm
As we convalesce
In the aftermath
There is a cleanness
Friday, 23 May 2014
True Nature # 3
BLUEBELLS IN THE WOOD
Bluebells in the wood
Sway in the dappled shade
To the tune of Spring
THISTLEDOWN, IN IDLE FLIGHT
Thistledown, in idle flight
Drifts upon the highland wind
Like ancestral spirits
BATHED IN SUMMER SUNSHINE
Bathed in summer sunshine
Gentle breezes stir the stems
But above in the golden sun
Grow an array of perfect gems
ICE AND RAIN
Ice and rain
Sleet and hail
Storm and tempest
Wind and gale
The rugged rock
Cannot prevail
THE SUMMER IS ENDING
The summer is ending
The flowers are dying
The meadows are still
And the geese are flying
SUMMER FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING
Summer flowers are blooming
In the scented meadows
Are the sun slowly sets
Lengthening the shadows
THE PEACEFUL VILLAGE
The peaceful village
In the frozen valley
Lay quietly beneath
Its winter cloak
BENDING IN THE BREEZE
Bending in the breeze
White stalks sway
Flower heads dancing
On a summer day
THE WINTER LAND LIES
The winter land lies
In suspended animation
Part of life’s eternal cycle
And with it, paused
Is its Infinite variety
But As the earth turns
Mother natures seed waits
Beneath the February snows
VOLCANOES ARE TERRIFYING
Volcanoes are terrifying
Just the thought of them is frightful
But pyroclastic eruptions
That’s just Nature at its most spiteful
Bluebells in the wood
Sway in the dappled shade
To the tune of Spring
THISTLEDOWN, IN IDLE FLIGHT
Thistledown, in idle flight
Drifts upon the highland wind
Like ancestral spirits
BATHED IN SUMMER SUNSHINE
Bathed in summer sunshine
Gentle breezes stir the stems
But above in the golden sun
Grow an array of perfect gems
ICE AND RAIN
Ice and rain
Sleet and hail
Storm and tempest
Wind and gale
The rugged rock
Cannot prevail
THE SUMMER IS ENDING
The summer is ending
The flowers are dying
The meadows are still
And the geese are flying
SUMMER FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING
Summer flowers are blooming
In the scented meadows
Are the sun slowly sets
Lengthening the shadows
THE PEACEFUL VILLAGE
The peaceful village
In the frozen valley
Lay quietly beneath
Its winter cloak
BENDING IN THE BREEZE
Bending in the breeze
White stalks sway
Flower heads dancing
On a summer day
THE WINTER LAND LIES
The winter land lies
In suspended animation
Part of life’s eternal cycle
And with it, paused
Is its Infinite variety
But As the earth turns
Mother natures seed waits
Beneath the February snows
VOLCANOES ARE TERRIFYING
Volcanoes are terrifying
Just the thought of them is frightful
But pyroclastic eruptions
That’s just Nature at its most spiteful
Friday, 10 January 2014
Bits and pieces
UNDER A SLATE GREY SKY
Under a slate grey sky
Or against a back drop of blue
Crossing bridges
Over river and stream
Thru woods and fields
Onward and upward
Over hill and vale
Riding the rails
The Locomotive speeds
Across the countryside
The marvel of the age
IT’S THE END OF MY AUTUMN DAYS
It’s the end of my autumn days
When heavens siren sings
And amidst a russet dawn
I hear deaths silent wings
A HOUSE IS STILL JUST A HOUSE
A house is still just a house
Made of brick and plaster
It takes something else
If it’s a home that you’re after
And making the transition
Now that is the real trick
And whether you do it or not
Depends on the partner you pick
THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY WAS IN FULL SWING
The office Christmas party
Was in full swing
Cheap plonk and nibbles
That kind of thing
From someone’s iPod
Loud Music played
And to that music
Eager bodies swayed
ALAS MEL SMITH
Melvin Kenneth "Mel" Smith (3 December 1952 – 19 July 2013)
Mel Smith
Comedian and writer,
Film director,
Producer and actor
Jack of all trades
Master of all
ENTER THE GARDEN HUMBLE BIRD
Enter the garden
Humble bird
Sing the sweetest
I have heard
Sing loves song
Upon the breeze
To your mate
Up in the trees
Bid her come
Courting on the wing
And with her
Brightly sing
HELLO MY LITTLE BUZZY BEE
Hello my little Buzzy bee
Amidst the flowers flying free
Gathering the Pollen busily
Make sweet honey just for me
AT THE END OF HIS LONG LIFE
At the end of his long life
A Godly man passes into heaven
Where he sits with God
And revues their Journey again
While he looked back
Sitting at Gods right hand
He saw it represented by
Two sets of footprints in the sand
But he noticed that at times
There was just one set
When he was at his lowest
And he was very upset
So he spoke to God and asked
That in the scene he was shown
Why at the hardest times
He walked the path alone
No my son you are mistaken
At those times God said
I thought it would be more fun
If we hopped instead
Under a slate grey sky
Or against a back drop of blue
Crossing bridges
Over river and stream
Thru woods and fields
Onward and upward
Over hill and vale
Riding the rails
The Locomotive speeds
Across the countryside
The marvel of the age
IT’S THE END OF MY AUTUMN DAYS
It’s the end of my autumn days
When heavens siren sings
And amidst a russet dawn
I hear deaths silent wings
A HOUSE IS STILL JUST A HOUSE
A house is still just a house
Made of brick and plaster
It takes something else
If it’s a home that you’re after
And making the transition
Now that is the real trick
And whether you do it or not
Depends on the partner you pick
THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY WAS IN FULL SWING
The office Christmas party
Was in full swing
Cheap plonk and nibbles
That kind of thing
From someone’s iPod
Loud Music played
And to that music
Eager bodies swayed
ALAS MEL SMITH
Melvin Kenneth "Mel" Smith (3 December 1952 – 19 July 2013)
Mel Smith
Comedian and writer,
Film director,
Producer and actor
Jack of all trades
Master of all
ENTER THE GARDEN HUMBLE BIRD
Enter the garden
Humble bird
Sing the sweetest
I have heard
Sing loves song
Upon the breeze
To your mate
Up in the trees
Bid her come
Courting on the wing
And with her
Brightly sing
HELLO MY LITTLE BUZZY BEE
Hello my little Buzzy bee
Amidst the flowers flying free
Gathering the Pollen busily
Make sweet honey just for me
AT THE END OF HIS LONG LIFE
At the end of his long life
A Godly man passes into heaven
Where he sits with God
And revues their Journey again
While he looked back
Sitting at Gods right hand
He saw it represented by
Two sets of footprints in the sand
But he noticed that at times
There was just one set
When he was at his lowest
And he was very upset
So he spoke to God and asked
That in the scene he was shown
Why at the hardest times
He walked the path alone
No my son you are mistaken
At those times God said
I thought it would be more fun
If we hopped instead
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
True Nature # 1
BENEATH THE FOREST CANOPY
Beneath the forest canopy
In the Emerald darkness
Of the ancient wood
It was refreshingly cool
But shadow soon gave way
To the dappled shade
Where the sun pierced
The leafy veil
Littering the floor
With Golden discs of light
And when the forest thinned
We came upon a Deer
Grazing in a forest glade
IN THE DEW FRESH MEADOW
In the dew fresh meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Appear to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of Autumn days
STUNG BY HAIL AND RAIN
Stung by hail and rain
And colds numbing bite
And cut through like a knife
By the east-wind’s spite
THE SUN BURNS BRIGHT ABOVE THE BLUE
The sun burns bright above the blue
From above the clouds up high
Shining brightly through the rain
Painting rainbows across the sky
MOONLIGHT GLINTS
Moonlight glints
On the silent vales
Dressed crisply
In winters cloak
Lying like rippled silk
On the frozen land
THE WONDROUS BEAUTY
The wondrous beauty
Of your pale white skin,
That seductive landscape
Pure as exotic silk
Fresh as winter snow
And as cold as your heart
THE WIND WHISTLES
The wind whistles
The frozen rain bites
And the chill runs deep
And we must escape
To shelter safe inside
Where the barn owls sleep
THE HEATHERS CLOAK THE HILLSIDE
The Heathers cloak the hillside
And Buttercups dot the meadow
The Bluebells carpet the woods
And Orchids pepper the hedgerow
In an understatement of radiance
Where the wild flowers grow
LITTLE BIRD BRING TO US
Little bird bring to us
Your sweet song
Bring it cheerily
With the spring
To the woodland
And to the meadow
And with your
Sweet melody
Usher in another
Blessed summer
THE SAVAGE NATURAL SCENE
The savage natural scene
In the winter meadow
Where the Falcon feeds
His talons red in the snow
BENEATH THE LEAFY CANOPY
Beneath the leafy canopy
Moonlight pierced the darkness
And shafts of lunar light
Like a brilliant laser show
Illuminated the forest floor
THE SUN RULES IN DAYLIGHT HOURS
The Sun rules in daylight hours
Shining light across the shadow
The Moon rules over the tides
In their perpetual ebb and flow
But God rules in the heavens
In benevolence over all below
TIGER, TIGER, BURNING BRIGHT
Tiger, Tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night
Poachers perform their rite
And leave a bloody sight
WINTER MAIDEN
Winter maiden
Draped afresh
In a pure white
Unsullied cloak
Hugging her contours
Uncorrupted
In its perfect purity
Her Pristine draperies
Like crisp white linen
Lying undisturbed
Natures maiden
In her winter coat
Beneath the forest canopy
In the Emerald darkness
Of the ancient wood
It was refreshingly cool
But shadow soon gave way
To the dappled shade
Where the sun pierced
The leafy veil
Littering the floor
With Golden discs of light
And when the forest thinned
We came upon a Deer
Grazing in a forest glade
IN THE DEW FRESH MEADOW
In the dew fresh meadow
I watch the dawn’s first rays
Appear to evaporate the mist
In the majesty of Autumn days
STUNG BY HAIL AND RAIN
Stung by hail and rain
And colds numbing bite
And cut through like a knife
By the east-wind’s spite
THE SUN BURNS BRIGHT ABOVE THE BLUE
The sun burns bright above the blue
From above the clouds up high
Shining brightly through the rain
Painting rainbows across the sky
MOONLIGHT GLINTS
Moonlight glints
On the silent vales
Dressed crisply
In winters cloak
Lying like rippled silk
On the frozen land
THE WONDROUS BEAUTY
The wondrous beauty
Of your pale white skin,
That seductive landscape
Pure as exotic silk
Fresh as winter snow
And as cold as your heart
THE WIND WHISTLES
The wind whistles
The frozen rain bites
And the chill runs deep
And we must escape
To shelter safe inside
Where the barn owls sleep
THE HEATHERS CLOAK THE HILLSIDE
The Heathers cloak the hillside
And Buttercups dot the meadow
The Bluebells carpet the woods
And Orchids pepper the hedgerow
In an understatement of radiance
Where the wild flowers grow
LITTLE BIRD BRING TO US
Little bird bring to us
Your sweet song
Bring it cheerily
With the spring
To the woodland
And to the meadow
And with your
Sweet melody
Usher in another
Blessed summer
THE SAVAGE NATURAL SCENE
The savage natural scene
In the winter meadow
Where the Falcon feeds
His talons red in the snow
BENEATH THE LEAFY CANOPY
Beneath the leafy canopy
Moonlight pierced the darkness
And shafts of lunar light
Like a brilliant laser show
Illuminated the forest floor
THE SUN RULES IN DAYLIGHT HOURS
The Sun rules in daylight hours
Shining light across the shadow
The Moon rules over the tides
In their perpetual ebb and flow
But God rules in the heavens
In benevolence over all below
TIGER, TIGER, BURNING BRIGHT
Tiger, Tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night
Poachers perform their rite
And leave a bloody sight
WINTER MAIDEN
Winter maiden
Draped afresh
In a pure white
Unsullied cloak
Hugging her contours
Uncorrupted
In its perfect purity
Her Pristine draperies
Like crisp white linen
Lying undisturbed
Natures maiden
In her winter coat
Friday, 19 July 2013
Nature Days
HUMMINGBIRD FLY
Hummingbird fly
On vibrant wings
Sip, iridescent beauty
From trumpet blooms
The nectar sweet
With long slender bill
In flower deep
FROM THE BREAK OF EACH NEW DAWN
From the break of each new dawn
When heralding the new day
The sun crests the horizon
To Paint the eastern sky
With natures orange glow
Until it sets again
In majestic splendour
Beyond the western hills
And is swallowed by the darkness
It gives life with its benevolent light
FLAME TREES
Flame trees in the jungle
Petals like tongues of fire
Burning bright in paradise
ON THE CUSP OF SPRING AND SUMMER
On the cusp of spring and summer
Hawthorn hedgerows bloom
And produce their fruity haws
Before the autumns gathering gloom
THE FADING LIGHT OF THE EVENING
The fading light of the evening
Mirrors the slow diminishing
Of my own dwindling light
As we both head towards the night
A DEW DROP SLOWLY ROLLS
A dew drop slowly rolls along the broad leaf
Like a perfect pearl, it moves on its journey brief
Before dropping off the edge to a rivulet below
And the pearl disappears into the mercurial flow
ON A STORMY NIGHT
On a stormy night
As strangers slumber
Around the gables
The wild wind howled
And rain hit the panes
Like thrown gravel
As the lightning struck
And thunder growled
THE HEATHERS ON THE HILLSIDE
The Heathers on the hillside
And Buttercups in the meadow
The Bluebells in the woods
And Orchids in the hedgerow
What a green and pleasant land
Where the wild flowers grow
AS THE EVENING LIGHT FADES
As the evening light fades
The sky takes on a twilight hue
Until the stars appear above
And the moon comes into view
RED ADMIRAL
Red admiral flutter by
You Beautiful butterfly
Drink from the buddleia
Lovely Vanessa atalanta
THE RED KITE
The Red Kite
Beautiful in flight
In the cape verde sky
Raptor flying high
THE RED SQUIRREL
The red squirrel
Cute arboreal Character
Once abundant in our woodland
Now small in number
Only survive in small pockets
Thanks to the grey intruder
LITTLE BIRD BRING US
Little bird bring us
Your sweet song
To woodland
And to meadow
Usher in another
Blessed summer
AMIDST THE MYRIAD STARS
Amidst the myriad stars
The bright crescent moon
Hangs in the midnight sky
And palely paints the ocean
With its gentle lunar light
A DAZZLING ARRAY OF STARS
A dazzling array of stars
Carpet the night sky
Enlivening the heart
And making spirits fly
Hummingbird fly
On vibrant wings
Sip, iridescent beauty
From trumpet blooms
The nectar sweet
With long slender bill
In flower deep
FROM THE BREAK OF EACH NEW DAWN
From the break of each new dawn
When heralding the new day
The sun crests the horizon
To Paint the eastern sky
With natures orange glow
Until it sets again
In majestic splendour
Beyond the western hills
And is swallowed by the darkness
It gives life with its benevolent light
FLAME TREES
Flame trees in the jungle
Petals like tongues of fire
Burning bright in paradise
ON THE CUSP OF SPRING AND SUMMER
On the cusp of spring and summer
Hawthorn hedgerows bloom
And produce their fruity haws
Before the autumns gathering gloom
THE FADING LIGHT OF THE EVENING
The fading light of the evening
Mirrors the slow diminishing
Of my own dwindling light
As we both head towards the night
A DEW DROP SLOWLY ROLLS
A dew drop slowly rolls along the broad leaf
Like a perfect pearl, it moves on its journey brief
Before dropping off the edge to a rivulet below
And the pearl disappears into the mercurial flow
ON A STORMY NIGHT
On a stormy night
As strangers slumber
Around the gables
The wild wind howled
And rain hit the panes
Like thrown gravel
As the lightning struck
And thunder growled
THE HEATHERS ON THE HILLSIDE
The Heathers on the hillside
And Buttercups in the meadow
The Bluebells in the woods
And Orchids in the hedgerow
What a green and pleasant land
Where the wild flowers grow
AS THE EVENING LIGHT FADES
As the evening light fades
The sky takes on a twilight hue
Until the stars appear above
And the moon comes into view
RED ADMIRAL
Red admiral flutter by
You Beautiful butterfly
Drink from the buddleia
Lovely Vanessa atalanta
THE RED KITE
The Red Kite
Beautiful in flight
In the cape verde sky
Raptor flying high
THE RED SQUIRREL
The red squirrel
Cute arboreal Character
Once abundant in our woodland
Now small in number
Only survive in small pockets
Thanks to the grey intruder
LITTLE BIRD BRING US
Little bird bring us
Your sweet song
To woodland
And to meadow
Usher in another
Blessed summer
AMIDST THE MYRIAD STARS
Amidst the myriad stars
The bright crescent moon
Hangs in the midnight sky
And palely paints the ocean
With its gentle lunar light
A DAZZLING ARRAY OF STARS
A dazzling array of stars
Carpet the night sky
Enlivening the heart
And making spirits fly
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Just Nature
WEST OF KINTYRE # 1
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
Looking out across the sea
To the distant misty shores
Of Antrim far away
THE SWIFT
The familiar forked tail
And crescent wing
Of the agile Swift in sky
Performing aerobatics
Above the fields of gold
So pleasing to the eye
WISPS OF WHITE
Wisps of White
Decorate the azure blue
Like absent minded stokes
Of an artist’s brush
While the sun bathes the land
With its benevolence
BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER BY # 1
Butterflies flutter by
In Magnolia melancholy
On gossamer wings
IN SPRINGTIME
In springtime
I walk in dappled shade
Down along
A woodland brook
Where Narcissi grow
And bow their heads
In deference
To the singing stream
WEST OF KINTYRE # 2
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
On a day so crisp and clear
And looked out towards the west
Where it was possible to see
Rathlin Island clear as day
And Ballycastle just beyond
LONG TAILED LINNET
Long tailed Linnet
Sweet flying Finch
Trill and twitter
Your pleasant song
All Summer long
THE AIR WAS SULTRY AND STALE
The air was sultry and stale
The heat oppressive
I sought the sanctity of the shade
Embracing its coolness
I walked beneath the leafy canopy
Where the silence welcomed
Contented I walked
In the leafy summer forest
Until within a glade
I came upon a woodland pool
its still dark waters
Looking glass flat.
I peered through my own reflection
Into the charismatic depths
And felt unnervingly as if
I were staring into the depths
Of my own soul
And for the first time
On that sultry summers afternoon
My skin felt cold
IN THE SUMMER FOREST
In the summer forest
I stared into the silent waters
Of the mirrored pool
It was a place spoken oft in lore
An eerie haunted place
The stillest place I’d known
To stand too long
Appreciating its tranquillity
Could cost you your soul
There were no fish
To break the surface
No insect ventured near
Bird song fell silent at its edge
And no creature quenched its thirst
No one knew if its waters were deep
Or merely murky shallows
It was not an inviting place
But if you stared too long
Into its mesmeric shadows
You would not tell the tale
THE PURPLE DEPTHS
The purple depths
Of heather on the hill
Looked down at their reflections
In the watery shadows
Of the timeless loch
BECALMED
We sat becalmed on the cold ocean
I wished to see the waters move
But they remained mirror flat
Still as a silent thought
Lost in the absent echo
As we remained motionless
Beneath a relentless sun
WEST OF KINTYRE # 3
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
On a day so crisp and clear
And looked out towards the west
Where it was possible to make out
Malin Head in Donegal
KINGFISHER, KINGFISHER
Kingfisher, Kingfisher
A glint of silver
Catches your eye
And like an arrow
You dart with purpose
Beneath the water
With barely a splash
Disappearing for a moment
Before returning
With the silver prize
LEAVING WINTERS SHADOW
When we come out
Of winters shadow
And it’s finally spring
There is fire in my heart.
And a lightness in my step
And the world seems full
Of infinite possibilities
THE RICH FED GROUSE THRIVE ON THE MOOR
The rich fed grouse thrive on the moor
The golden hare lives on the valley floor
In the meadow you’ll find rabbits there
While the fox sits patiently in his lair
A BUMBLE BEE BUSIES
A bumble bee busies
A Butterfly rises and dips
And there amid velvet petals
A single hummingbird sips
THE PIERCING OF THE WIND
The piercing of the wind
Iced like the mountain peaks
Brought water to my eyes
And a stinging to my cheeks
It left hands too cold to grip
And lips to numb to speak
It cut through my cloak
And made the outlook bleak
THE STORM RAGED
The storm raged
Thunder roared
And lightning flashed
As rain fell unrestrained
From leaden skies
Like liquid knives
Dropping into the sodden land
Night came early
Beneath the slate grey
Until a tear in the fabric
Of the unremitting deluge
A perfect patch of blue
Showing through the heavy sky
Brought tranquillity
With a glimpse of heaven
Through the darkness
A beam of heavens light
Shone down upon the land
A beacon from above
To let us know
We are not forsaken
THE CHILL WIND
The chill wind
Bitter and biting
Buffeted the house
Rattling the windows
And whistling at the door
Exploiting every weakness
Exposing every crack
To chill us to our bones
THE SPRING MELT
The heavily laden
Mountain slopes
Slowly shed their winter coat
Beginning the slow spring melt
The snow and ice
Releasing the water
Imprisoned within it
Metamorphosing as it seeps
Into every crevice
Rivulets gently trickling
Into dormant streams
Gaining volume and momentum
As it tumbles downward
Swelling and growing
Feeding cascading waterfalls
And white water rapids
As it races to the valleys below
EAST OF KINTYRE
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
On a day so crisp and clear
And looked out towards the east
And it was possible to see
The mystical Ailsa Craig
And the Ayrshire coast beyond
THE CHERRY BLOSSOM
The cherry blossom
Filled the tree
A brief spectacle
Of perfect beauty
Until the petals fell
Like pink snowflakes
And in the breeze
Danced like confetti
Outside the church
On our wedding day
WHITE AS LUNAR LIGHT
White as Lunar light
Moonshine birds fly lonely skies
Where echoes can’t be heard
SNOWDROPS IN WINTER
Snowdrops in winter
Mother natures heralds
Of the coming spring
BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER BY # 2
Butterflies flutter by
On pale Cabbage white wings,
Heralds of beauty
JOYOUS SENSUALITY
Joyous sensuality
In summers scented garden
Under temperate sky
SPRING RAIN IS POURING
Spring rain is pouring
Battered blossoms falling
Pink snow is lying
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
Looking out across the sea
To the distant misty shores
Of Antrim far away
THE SWIFT
The familiar forked tail
And crescent wing
Of the agile Swift in sky
Performing aerobatics
Above the fields of gold
So pleasing to the eye
WISPS OF WHITE
Wisps of White
Decorate the azure blue
Like absent minded stokes
Of an artist’s brush
While the sun bathes the land
With its benevolence
BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER BY # 1
Butterflies flutter by
In Magnolia melancholy
On gossamer wings
IN SPRINGTIME
In springtime
I walk in dappled shade
Down along
A woodland brook
Where Narcissi grow
And bow their heads
In deference
To the singing stream
WEST OF KINTYRE # 2
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
On a day so crisp and clear
And looked out towards the west
Where it was possible to see
Rathlin Island clear as day
And Ballycastle just beyond
LONG TAILED LINNET
Long tailed Linnet
Sweet flying Finch
Trill and twitter
Your pleasant song
All Summer long
THE AIR WAS SULTRY AND STALE
The air was sultry and stale
The heat oppressive
I sought the sanctity of the shade
Embracing its coolness
I walked beneath the leafy canopy
Where the silence welcomed
Contented I walked
In the leafy summer forest
Until within a glade
I came upon a woodland pool
its still dark waters
Looking glass flat.
I peered through my own reflection
Into the charismatic depths
And felt unnervingly as if
I were staring into the depths
Of my own soul
And for the first time
On that sultry summers afternoon
My skin felt cold
IN THE SUMMER FOREST
In the summer forest
I stared into the silent waters
Of the mirrored pool
It was a place spoken oft in lore
An eerie haunted place
The stillest place I’d known
To stand too long
Appreciating its tranquillity
Could cost you your soul
There were no fish
To break the surface
No insect ventured near
Bird song fell silent at its edge
And no creature quenched its thirst
No one knew if its waters were deep
Or merely murky shallows
It was not an inviting place
But if you stared too long
Into its mesmeric shadows
You would not tell the tale
THE PURPLE DEPTHS
The purple depths
Of heather on the hill
Looked down at their reflections
In the watery shadows
Of the timeless loch
BECALMED
We sat becalmed on the cold ocean
I wished to see the waters move
But they remained mirror flat
Still as a silent thought
Lost in the absent echo
As we remained motionless
Beneath a relentless sun
WEST OF KINTYRE # 3
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
On a day so crisp and clear
And looked out towards the west
Where it was possible to make out
Malin Head in Donegal
KINGFISHER, KINGFISHER
Kingfisher, Kingfisher
A glint of silver
Catches your eye
And like an arrow
You dart with purpose
Beneath the water
With barely a splash
Disappearing for a moment
Before returning
With the silver prize
LEAVING WINTERS SHADOW
When we come out
Of winters shadow
And it’s finally spring
There is fire in my heart.
And a lightness in my step
And the world seems full
Of infinite possibilities
THE RICH FED GROUSE THRIVE ON THE MOOR
The rich fed grouse thrive on the moor
The golden hare lives on the valley floor
In the meadow you’ll find rabbits there
While the fox sits patiently in his lair
A BUMBLE BEE BUSIES
A bumble bee busies
A Butterfly rises and dips
And there amid velvet petals
A single hummingbird sips
THE PIERCING OF THE WIND
The piercing of the wind
Iced like the mountain peaks
Brought water to my eyes
And a stinging to my cheeks
It left hands too cold to grip
And lips to numb to speak
It cut through my cloak
And made the outlook bleak
THE STORM RAGED
The storm raged
Thunder roared
And lightning flashed
As rain fell unrestrained
From leaden skies
Like liquid knives
Dropping into the sodden land
Night came early
Beneath the slate grey
Until a tear in the fabric
Of the unremitting deluge
A perfect patch of blue
Showing through the heavy sky
Brought tranquillity
With a glimpse of heaven
Through the darkness
A beam of heavens light
Shone down upon the land
A beacon from above
To let us know
We are not forsaken
THE CHILL WIND
The chill wind
Bitter and biting
Buffeted the house
Rattling the windows
And whistling at the door
Exploiting every weakness
Exposing every crack
To chill us to our bones
THE SPRING MELT
The heavily laden
Mountain slopes
Slowly shed their winter coat
Beginning the slow spring melt
The snow and ice
Releasing the water
Imprisoned within it
Metamorphosing as it seeps
Into every crevice
Rivulets gently trickling
Into dormant streams
Gaining volume and momentum
As it tumbles downward
Swelling and growing
Feeding cascading waterfalls
And white water rapids
As it races to the valleys below
EAST OF KINTYRE
On the Mull of Kintyre
I stood atop the steep cliffs
On a day so crisp and clear
And looked out towards the east
And it was possible to see
The mystical Ailsa Craig
And the Ayrshire coast beyond
THE CHERRY BLOSSOM
The cherry blossom
Filled the tree
A brief spectacle
Of perfect beauty
Until the petals fell
Like pink snowflakes
And in the breeze
Danced like confetti
Outside the church
On our wedding day
WHITE AS LUNAR LIGHT
White as Lunar light
Moonshine birds fly lonely skies
Where echoes can’t be heard
SNOWDROPS IN WINTER
Snowdrops in winter
Mother natures heralds
Of the coming spring
BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER BY # 2
Butterflies flutter by
On pale Cabbage white wings,
Heralds of beauty
JOYOUS SENSUALITY
Joyous sensuality
In summers scented garden
Under temperate sky
SPRING RAIN IS POURING
Spring rain is pouring
Battered blossoms falling
Pink snow is lying
Sunday, 19 August 2012
The Natural World
WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE EAST
When the wind is in the east,
Is the time I like the least
When the wind is in the east,
Then winter has been unleashed
WHEN MOTHER NATURE DONS
When Mother Nature dons
Her spring gown of splendour
She decorates with beauties
Normally reserved for heaven
And bestows upon the earth
Those perfect gifts from God
DAYS OUT ON THE WATER
Days out on the water
Windswept with rime
Watery sunshine above a
Putty coloured sea
As I sailed the estuary
With dad at the helm
WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE NORTH
When the wind is in the north,
It blows me back and forth
When the wind is in the north,
I stay indoors thenceforth
THE FIERCE AUTUMN GALES
The fierce autumn gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The pour souls at sea
On the dark autumnal night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel its savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark autumnal night
THE SKIES OF ENDLESS AZURE
The skies of endless azure
Stretch to the distant horizon
And in fond embrace they kiss
The iridescent blue ocean
WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE SOUTH
When the wind is in the south,
And the sun is in the sky
This is the time I like most well
And my spirits are very high
RICH TROPICAL SCENTS FILL THE AIR
Rich tropical scents fill the air
And are carried on the breeze
As the waters of the pacific
Lap at the sands of perfect white
THE SCENTED TROPICAL BREEZE
The scented tropical breeze
Blows offshore, gently
Carrying exotic fragrances
Of paradise out to sea
WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE WEST
When the wind is in the west,
Is the time I like the best
When the wind is in the west,
I know I can shed my vest
When the wind is in the east,
Is the time I like the least
When the wind is in the east,
Then winter has been unleashed
WHEN MOTHER NATURE DONS
When Mother Nature dons
Her spring gown of splendour
She decorates with beauties
Normally reserved for heaven
And bestows upon the earth
Those perfect gifts from God
DAYS OUT ON THE WATER
Days out on the water
Windswept with rime
Watery sunshine above a
Putty coloured sea
As I sailed the estuary
With dad at the helm
WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE NORTH
When the wind is in the north,
It blows me back and forth
When the wind is in the north,
I stay indoors thenceforth
THE FIERCE AUTUMN GALES
The fierce autumn gales
Howl all through the night
Whipping up the seas
And turning wave tops white
The pour souls at sea
On the dark autumnal night
In the teeth of the tempest
Feel its savage bite
And pray to their gods
To save them from their plight
As the gale blows through
On the dark autumnal night
THE SKIES OF ENDLESS AZURE
The skies of endless azure
Stretch to the distant horizon
And in fond embrace they kiss
The iridescent blue ocean
WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE SOUTH
When the wind is in the south,
And the sun is in the sky
This is the time I like most well
And my spirits are very high
RICH TROPICAL SCENTS FILL THE AIR
Rich tropical scents fill the air
And are carried on the breeze
As the waters of the pacific
Lap at the sands of perfect white
THE SCENTED TROPICAL BREEZE
The scented tropical breeze
Blows offshore, gently
Carrying exotic fragrances
Of paradise out to sea
WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE WEST
When the wind is in the west,
Is the time I like the best
When the wind is in the west,
I know I can shed my vest
Monday, 19 March 2012
The Natural World
THE SEASONS COME AND GO - SPRING
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no springtime
BE GENTLE WITH THE EARTH
Be gentle with the earth
It matters such a lot
Look at the landscape
And don’t be the blot
Be gentle with the earth
It’s the only one we’ve got
THE SEASONS COME AND GO - SUMMER
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no summertime
CLOAK OF FOG
A thick winter cloak of fog
Settles deep into the valley
Making everywhere anonymous
Obscuring every lane and ally
And for those poor souls abroad
Found it was not a night to dally
THE SEASONS COME AND GO - AUTUMN
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no autumn time
LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST
“Little Robin redbreast
Where can you be?
Dear little Robin
Come and say hello to me”
“I can’t “says the Robin
“The winter is preventing me”
“Little Robin redbreast
Where can you be?
Dear little Robin
Come and say hello to me”
“I can’t say hello to you
Because I’m frozen to this tree”
THE SEASONS COME AND GO - WINTER
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no wintertime
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no springtime
BE GENTLE WITH THE EARTH
Be gentle with the earth
It matters such a lot
Look at the landscape
And don’t be the blot
Be gentle with the earth
It’s the only one we’ve got
THE SEASONS COME AND GO - SUMMER
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no summertime
CLOAK OF FOG
A thick winter cloak of fog
Settles deep into the valley
Making everywhere anonymous
Obscuring every lane and ally
And for those poor souls abroad
Found it was not a night to dally
THE SEASONS COME AND GO - AUTUMN
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no autumn time
LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST
“Little Robin redbreast
Where can you be?
Dear little Robin
Come and say hello to me”
“I can’t “says the Robin
“The winter is preventing me”
“Little Robin redbreast
Where can you be?
Dear little Robin
Come and say hello to me”
“I can’t say hello to you
Because I’m frozen to this tree”
THE SEASONS COME AND GO - WINTER
The seasons come and go
Almost monotonous I know
One after another, as planned
Like the sweep of a clock hand
Each season reminding us all
That from winter to the fall
Is yet another year slipped by
A step closer to when we die
A depressing thought I know
But let the seasons come and go
For I think it would be a crime
If their was to be no wintertime
Friday, 11 November 2011
NATURE POEMS
BEAUTEOUS ROSE
Beauteous Rose in summer dress
In scented splendour
The courtly bees attends thee
Thy fragrant demeanour
In sunlit display
Leaves all nature in awe
THE NIGHT IS STILL
The night is still
And summer flowers sleep
To awake with dawn
A NEW DAY DAWNING
On the distant horizon
The embers of the dawn
Brightly glow
As God blows gentle breath
Upon the glowing coals
And lights up another day
WANE BITTER SEASON
Wane bitter season,
dare Snowdrops to appear, before
winters lingering bite
SPRING WAKES
Spring wakes from lazy
slumber, finding the Crocus heads
already on display
Beauteous Rose in summer dress
In scented splendour
The courtly bees attends thee
Thy fragrant demeanour
In sunlit display
Leaves all nature in awe
THE NIGHT IS STILL
The night is still
And summer flowers sleep
To awake with dawn
A NEW DAY DAWNING
On the distant horizon
The embers of the dawn
Brightly glow
As God blows gentle breath
Upon the glowing coals
And lights up another day
WANE BITTER SEASON
Wane bitter season,
dare Snowdrops to appear, before
winters lingering bite
SPRING WAKES
Spring wakes from lazy
slumber, finding the Crocus heads
already on display
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