Voice of Experience

Voice of Experience

For all you ‘next time, darling’ dads

and ‘next time, darling’ mums,

don’t expect to keep respect if

‘next time’ never comes.

Ghost Bike

the bike that's chained to the railings
was left here last December, 
nobody ever rides it - 
it's there so we remember

Yew Tree

I've been reading about the association between Pagans and Yew trees (amongst others). Interesting stuff!!

Yew Tree 

I planted it 
the night you left, 
gathered soil 
sticky
wet
in both my hands 
to form a mound,
pushed the seed 

gently

down.
Eventually
it sprouted,
grew
towards the light.
This tree is
Yew.

Different Eyes

Different Eyes

They see:

Snowmen. Snowball fights. Sledging.

I see:

Fragility. Beauty. Uniqueness in every flake.

They see:

Something to climb. Goalposts.

I see:

Silent storytellers. Gentle guardian sway.

They see:

Puddles. Wet play. Boredom.

I see:

Life.

I feel the call of something I can’t explain.

They think I’m different.

They’re right.  

But I belong to something.

Ancient Tree

Look at me,

I’m an ancient tree!

Been here since 1543.

I’m fissure-filled but dry-rot free.

My trunk, my crown, my canopy,

have rich bio-diversity:

beetles, bats, the bumblebee.

I’m living, breathing history.

Yet from where I stand

there seems to be

very, very, few

who see

you

really

must

look

after

me.

Candlewick Convention Country Witches

The Candlewick Convention Country Witches

 

Skies were burning scarlet as the daytime turned to night

and the Candlewick Convention Country Witches took to flight,

heaving on their broomsticks wicker-baskets filled with jam,

enormous lemon drizzle cakes and apple tarte-tatin. 

 

Heading for a picnic at the end of Blackpool Pier,

but the friendly northern seaside-folk had nothing grim to fear,

for the Candlewick Convention Country Witches aren’t the sort

who go turning people’s children into froggies just for sport.  

 

They’d rather bake a muffin, have a cup of red-bush tea,

organise a jumble sale or practise their tai-chi.

Yes, the Candlewick Convention Country Witches have a code:

‘Never make foul potions out of eye of newt or toad.

 

Always wear red-lipstick. Keep broomsticks nice and clean.

Use expensive toothpaste so your dental-work will gleam.

Dress in finely tailored clothes of flowing, silken white.

Enrich yourself with culture.  Always be polite.’

 

They do a lot for charity, teach children how to read.

Most can speak eight languages, and all have got degrees.

They care for the environment and always pick up litter,

they help lost hedgehogs find their way by painting paths of glitter.

 

 

 

So on a lonely moonlit night, if you should see a witch,

don’t hide behind a bus-stop or dive into a ditch.

It’s probably a Candlewick, out on a mercy mission -

wave and thank your lucky stars the Girls are out there Witching!

 

 

Chestnuts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A chestnut’s

the best nut

to eat

when it snows

 

hot

from the pot

give ‘em

quick

cooling blows

 

split them

and slip them

sweet

from the shell  

 

winter

 

warmth

 

and

oh

 

that smell