Reality

Harsh realities crash in
And like bitter memories do
They change us
Maybe even remove
Any sense of sensibility
And we find ourselves
In empty shopping malls
Searching for toilet paper
And pasta that isn’t wholegrain.
Panicked and broken
We return to our homes
Switch on the radio or tv
And listen to the latest news –
How many have succumbed
How many new cases
When will toilet paper
Be back on the shelves.
Maybe some of us
Reread Tolkien’s
Lord of the Rings
Or all of our Harry Potter novels
While we snack on chocolate
Left over from Christmas
And drink tea
Flavoured with honey
And play board games
And wonder if things
Will ever be the same.

In case of emergency

The Blizzard

Across a Surreal landscape
White defeats the green
Black naked branches
Reach towards low slung clouds
As snow flurries lash
Exposed skin on cheerful faces
We shelter in each other’s warmth
And conversations of sunshine
Promoted by
Wine, good gin and pizza.

The road out.

Just do it… gently

With the suns arrival
and the departure of the night
My body stirs…
It needs stuff.
Tea, strong and white,
Toast - blonde
Eggs, over easy
Painkillers by two
Happy pill by one
Stomach - there’s one for you too
Eyes - cleared
Skin - moisturised
A walk - Knee strapped
Cane - in hand
Sunglasses - prescription grade, on
Dog - ready
Let's do this day.

Peggy-Sue (haibun)

Peggy-Sue got married. Not last year, because we were dating then. It wasn’t this Spring either, we were still together, even then. So here is Summer and I’m at the beach, trying to put sunscreen on my back. Peggy-Sue got married yesterday.

moments remembered
summer burns along my spine
‘til death, do us part

 

 

 

 

 

Meanderings

I sometimes look at the ocean and wonder

Do fish look up at the sky and wonder?

I took a picture of the moon rising.

The moonbeams pierced the clouds

And shone brightly on the surface

Of an otherwise black sea.

Did the sea creatures below see the beauty?

These thought occur regularly.

They sneak out of dark corners

Way back in my mind.

It makes me wonder what else goes on…

Back there.

My subconscious scares me a little,

Am I controlling it?

My life experiences

Held in a big subconscious bowl.

Allowed to stew and blend,

Then pushed forward –

Unfiltered, unprocessed…unspoiled?

I mean, I’ve sometimes had the thought –

How can somebody do wrong

To another person –

Yell, hit, ignore, vilify or worse.

And then the thought comes –

How did it feel for the perpetrator?

Do I really want to know?

I don’t, and if I don’t

Why does my subconscious?

Idle curiosity…

I choose to think so.

I look into my dog’s eyes –

I love you they say.

Or is that what I want them to say.

When is dinner?

That’s probably what she’s thinking.

Maybe that look’s just curiosity?

And if curiosity killed the cat –

I am in a lot of trouble.

Reasons to be Cheerful

Some of this

Less of that

Fear of few

Love of lots

Plenty to give

Thankful to receive 

Words that build

Ears that listen

Hearts that sing

Those who laugh

Hands that help

Spirits that soar

Colours that matter

Differences that don’t

Friendship to warm

Music to soothe

Places to see

Those I’ve seen

Paths that meander

Senryu (Process)

type your first word here

then keep typing 'til the end -

how to write a book
:)