Journey of Words

Tag: Life

  • “I would”

    Slumped in an easy chair in a Premier Inn bar Beer and wine settling on top of his dinner Drooling over female television presenters Hardly an athlete; he could be much thinner . “If I wasn’t married Given half a chance” “I would” he proclaims “Without second glance”* . How has this male whale With →

  • Underneath the Mistletoe

    A fruit falls Dull white ball Rolls and settles Into a crevice Turns to seed Slides out its roots Within the branch Beneath the bark Drinks from inside Sucks in the nutrients Thrives While the host Curls up slowly Unable to cast off The fatal grip . CLP 08/12/2019 →

  • Out!

    Throw back your head Release that choking Wrung-tight Gut-deep Howl . Let it rip the last leaves from poplars Slap around the lake Cut through the Arctic wind Smack into the mountains Crack countless shards from glaciers Tear open the glowering sky And let sunshine in . CLP 08/12/2019 →

  • Pied Pauper

    Let’s go My little companions I cannot sleep Follow me To the bakery Doorway Where we’ll be warm Tonight You can eat Crumbs Tomorrow I will wake To the smell Of bread . n.b. I may be between homes, but I have choices. As we move to winter there are far too many people of →

  • Lyon (VI)

    Sunday’s streets mostly silent I hear the leathery leaf of a plane tree fall Now Saturday’s night is done This is how life used to be A day of rest, officially When even clocks seem to pause But Metro lines, buses and trams Still running efficiently Over the viaduct a TGV rolls A slow start →

  • Lyon (V)

    Out to the east Where there is space Derelict factories rust A stadium has been built Tram lines laid Office blocks stand Apartments planned Colour blind posters Promote hygienic living At the concrete shopping arcade Teenagers Gather out of the pissing rain Under the awning Listening to music In the company of old drunks The →

  • Cards or Dice (Lyon IV)

    Cut, shuffle Rattle, roll Which is better? I don’t know. When asking for a sign Throw the jacks . n.b. Fate does not lay out our fortune, but the interpreter of fortunes does. We hear what we want to hear, believe what we choose and act out our lives accordingly. King James VI of Scotland, →

  • Points of Departure

    Side by side They moved off together On the green signal Paced perfectly From beneath the shadow Into the low morning sun Simultaneously Tempo steadily climbing Synchronised Flicks of stanchion shadows passed faster In tandem The lines gradually diverged Curved Stretched them apart She waved He turned to his phone . CLP 23/11/2019 →

  • Leaving

    Separation Leaf from stem Releases the bough To face winter’s drag Saves the tree Winter buds all ready For spring . n.b. The following website considers the timing of arboreal leaf growth. The discussion about winter bud formation is found at the foot of the article. https://sciencenorway.no/forskningno-norway-trees/how-do-trees-know-when-to-awake-in-spring/1455135 CLP 20/11/2019 →

  • Happy

    Her smile is wider than her head A photo shows this when she was ten Her brilliant eyes then shone so bright Her teeth gleaming in black and white And still after many colourful years When distant childhood memories may bring on tears She has that smile as wide today What might spark it I →