Category Archives: Uncategorized
Set my Hearing Aids for Blackbirds
Three autumn leavesA crack in the pavementNearby a blackbirdLove the sound of a blackbirdStrong, and clear, A blackbird is purposeful In the morning broadcasting His plans for the day My hearing these days not the bestA shame Hearing aids,“Now is the time Sir, your new hearing aidsWhat in particularAre you listening forAnd we’ll offer youContinue reading “Set my Hearing Aids for Blackbirds”
“To talk of many things: but not of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax— of cabbages—and kings
Does a poem have to rhyme?My first two lines do, just this time Popper, Karl Popper“Never heard of him!”David Benson has So had that kind ladySheet (must be dead now)“Oh I was his secretary dear – many years ago now.”One seat left in the whole cafeWellington, early seventies, a student cafeAnd she beckoned me over“ComeContinue reading ““To talk of many things: but not of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax— of cabbages—and kings”
On Reflection
An angry callWings flapping on water“Listen Ducky, there’s enough water for the two of us”Summer timeYou can’t enter gracefully into this riverYou jump, you fallOr you slitherLike an eel Poppa, at your age, you shouldn’t go swimming on your own!”When I was very young, old people were always telling me stuff“If I were you .Continue reading “On Reflection”
Wet Monday!
Days of sunHappinessBike ridesChats to cows, munching bullsPonies who no longer look up as I pass Then it rainsIndignationButHappy gardenersThose on tank water
Wednesday Morning
It is all about timingFifteen degrees this morning, cool for this time of the year. Prepare breakfast, catch up on news, messagesCheck weather forecast – a fifteen Km wind from South East predictedLooking at the clouds it’s actually South West. The warm upThe sun rises and warms our front porchDoves, sparrows arrive and hover aboutContinue reading “Wednesday Morning”
Repeated for the last three days. 32°. I tried a bike ride, came home quickly, baked. Jumped into our river instead, just upstream from the rest of Thames, happy, shining, glistening families. We call out to each other Mothers telling the younger ones to take care. Teenagers not taking care Ain’t summer grand!
He’s in a Dash
Not yet a man, no longer child, Benji sleeps, or he’s in a dash Loved dearly, drives his mother wild Forever hungry, needing cash. Here, our breakfast, eaten, done. And from my daughter, good morning wishes She’s off to work and on the run – “Last night your grandson did the dishes!” Fixing stuff, he’sContinue reading “He’s in a Dash”
Three of us
FamilySunshineMaking our way downhill.A field of daisiesDaisies nodding, weaving about in a vigorous breezeBlue Sky Next the call of Canadian geese.Beautiful in flightIn tight formation they circle, calling to each other.Locals shoot them. They foul our waterways, restricting the life of native species. To steady ourselves we carry sticks, walking poles. The stability. The comfort,Continue reading “Three of us”
Ham, Cheese and Brown Onion
Just to my leftA cafeI’m hungryLate morning, an active, ‘useful’ morning. I buy a toasted sandwichYes, I could have made one at homeBut No 44 is perched on my small window table.Moving pictures of Thames people going places along the pavement. An old blokeMy ageNo sure where he should be goingTrousers too bigHe’s probably shrunkHe’sContinue reading “Ham, Cheese and Brown Onion”
David in Pen and Pics 