Category Archives: Poems

‘Hear ye, hear ye,’ the trumpet fish waved his long snout ’The Boss is anxious to sort things out. He’s calling a meeting of all you chaps to right a few wrongs, so perhaps you would kindly make your way … Continue reading →

Kielder Midges A hatch of midges hovers in a cloud above Kielder Water at eventide. Hungry for human blood they are avowed, not to disperse until it is supplied. Despite this hazard, hardy walkers crowd, for the beauty of the … Continue reading →

I’ve been browsing through the box of Mum’s writing I have and came across this poem about Sandwood Bay which was a family favourite on our 3 week caravanning trips around Scotland for many summers.  These summer trips did inspire … Continue reading →

A survey of bird life hereabouts showed nary a one when we moved in. The need to see life is vital to me so I set about planting treats: flowers to lure insects, greaseballs stuck in the apple tree and … Continue reading →

An ocean of green shadowy depths ─ through which float islands of sunlight Deepest forest clouded by the breath of trees — small creatures creep (c) Vivienne Blake March 7 2016 Photos taken in Viv’s Wood 2 June 2019 (c) Sally … Continue reading →

Insects flittering, leaves flickering in the breeze filter the light with moving speckles. Glistening blue and green of dragonfly delight the eye. Cacophony of birdsong tunes the ear to individual airs. A waft of flowery fragrance scents the air as a … Continue reading →

From wandering far, wind-soaring nobly, wearily back to remembered refuge, Litter-strewn encampment, scruffy pile of sticks: I don not belie the reputation of my kind. So why? Why do they watch me, peer at me, target of telescopes and paparazzi … Continue reading →

Monsoon Eagerly awaited in parched places producing life in desert oases feared in low-lying river basins suffered stoically on vacation welcomed by gardeners inhaling petrichor* with appreciation. * Petrichor – the smell given off by rain falling on dry earth. … Continue reading →

The Cream of the garden The bank, left wild for birds, insects, and January primroses, before violets, bluebells, nettles, cow parsley and foxgloves. The hedge, murdered every few years for winter logs and kindling – a motley thing of alder, … Continue reading →

One Beautiful Morning in May It seems as though the path runs through three seasons – where just three weeks ago the foliage was sparse, now  banks are full of flora in abundance. Fauna also leaves its evidence – I … Continue reading →

The storm crashes through the membrane of blue sky, brings booming thunder, streaky wayward lethal lightning, machine gun hail  to batter us. The limb of ancient oak creaks and cracks, tumbles from force of wind on wood; perfect habitat of … Continue reading →

A Microscopic Drop in the Ocean Our wide world is just a drop in the ocean, a punctuation mark in creation. A zoom lens powers in with vertigo-inducing speed from the vast outer void through space past planets oceans seas … Continue reading →

The trees know it all We know that feeble ancient poet who slares along the lonning between our rows on good days, encircles the built-on bourg peering at nettles, splits in our bark and holes delved inside us by wild … Continue reading →