Thursday, July 25, 2013

Winter Trees


Winter trees
Etched into
A winter sky
Of scabby grey

Giants
Forlorn beasts
Stark
Can a tree be lonely?

Laden with snow
We feel their nakedness
We are patient for them

Or waving angrily
But we know
That anger is our own

Giant shadows
Of ourselves

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Spoils of War


Imagine, after humans have left the planet
And the new owners of Earth
Are digging about for signs of our past
There will probably be a TV programme
Intergalactic Time Team
Beamed across the universe

Aliens, delicately sifting soil
Looking for ancient artifacts
Trying to discover what our race was like

Excitement as the first items are found
An ancient sword, bullets, a rusted flamethrower
An unexploded mine

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Sniper


Mum gives Tarik a hug
Don’t cross the Square
It may be further via the church
But it’s safe. You’re not in open view.

And tell him, Belma sends her love
That might be worth an extra loaf or two
I know he has the flour still
And while you are there
Ask him, What news of Ivan?

Mum gives Tarik another hug
And whispers a short prayer
Go now, she says
And do not cross the Square

Monday, July 08, 2013

Learner Drivers?


A trail of smashed milk bottles
The pavement’s milky wet
Billy’s football squashed and burst
Billy’s quite upset

Mrs Jones’ geraniums
Fit for the compost heap
Mum’s vase bounced off the sideboard
You should have seen it leap

And grandad’s bicycle’s been crushed
He’s in a proper fix
And the wall where grandad leant his bike
Is now a pile of bricks

Three lamposts bent like coat hangers
Our cat has run away
You have to learn to drive a tank
And the lessons were today

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

The Funnel Web Spider


The Australian funnel web spider
Hides in the loo
And is likely to bite your bottom
When you go for a call of nature

Monday, July 01, 2013

Coming Soon


Last year’s fig tree
Leans over the new wall
Next year – figs!