NATURE'S BACKING BAND

The syncopating rhythm of rain; freeform jazz falls in paradiddles and drizzles as quiet energy bristles. Storms rarely arrive with a set-list; they arrive broody and moody, cigarette lit, on the guestlist. Nature's backing band. Here for one night only to blow you all away.

KODACHROME - A LOVE LETTER

Kodachrome - The filter to our youth

Kodachrome - Takes colo(u)r to the truth

Kodachrome - Your vibrancy holds sway

Kodachrome - You still open gateways

Kodachrome - Wrings poetry from light

Kodachrome - I wallow in your might

THE VIRGIN MARY AND THE DONKEY

A line of shepherds, stars, donkeys and wise men pass along my street. Local school kids off to the local church for a Xmas concert. I count four wise men. Different from my day. Perhaps they're allowed substitutes? The Virgin Mary argues with a donkey. Apparently, both smell!

GOSSIP

Gossiping gusts of wind; tittle-tattle touching the tops of bristling trees, urgent rumours folding and unfolding with the sway of the grass.

Yet dowdy dowager bushes shake their windy bustles, dismissive of such idle hearsay and blustery scuttlebutt, thank you very much indeed!

LURKING

Sticky, velcro rain grips stolid air; a gravity-defying, hideaway-highwayman, looking to divest (those of us blessed) from any semblance of comfort or warmth. If today you're made to stand & deliver then it's too late for you. To everyone else-be mindful of Dick Turpin. Lurking.

WET FLOOR: A CAUTIONARY TALE

I never knew

the hidden message

this thing hid.

"Caution: Wet Floor" it said.

So I did. 

FOSSILISED AMBER

The mulch of leaves from trees of the avenue. Pavements as temporary ice-rinks. Embarrassed slips become much vaunted skips from folk who walked here, hitherto. One man slips but attempts to fly into a jog but the fossilised amber of this tweet will trap his fly. Forever.

THE WEARY CRITIC

Wintry rain. Not thick enough for snow, not clever enough for sleet. Instead it falls hesitantly onto the ground, almost an understudy playing Rains part, not quite sure of the lines. The wet earth, sodden under the mulch of dead leaves, sighs the acceptance of the weary critic.

BADLY-DRAWN DANCING SANTA

Frost normally tickles this time of year leaving intricate patterns in its wake. Today its white knuckles have gripped firmly upon my lawn. It looks like a child's homemade Xmas card with all the glitter glued to the base. A badly-drawn, dancing Santa could dislodge the lot! ❄️🎅

ADVENT MIRABILIS

Chocolate advent calendars began

In nineteen ninety-three

(which was rather late for me)

Between the time of the Milk Tray man

And my own kids and our tree.