Today's poet

[Harry H Howgill]

Alas, I am something of a stranger to the thread these days as I snowed under with work.

HHH, I loved your oystercatcher poem. It was so sweet and I too really enjoy this time of year. After last night's excitement of the eagle owl, I have just been appreciating the smaller birds such as a gorgeous little blue tit rescued from the road this morning and the curlews calling in the fields.

Thanks Hes. I wasn't feeling particularly poetic at the time, but the image was so striking when I saw them that I just had to write something. The Curlews haven't reached this far inland yet, but everything does seem to be a couple of weeks behind this year. I've normally got a big colony of Black Headed Gulls by now, but there are only a couple of birds loitering about so far.

I've got a haiku somewhere about a wheel of blue tits. I think it is refering to the way they buzz round each other in the branches, rather than being run over!

[Harry H Howgill]

Nice one Stef

You are putting us to shame; whilst we are all sleeping you are running and composing all at the same time.

One for the early risers

A gentle but persistant tune
steals the peace of deepest sleep
surely it can't be morning yet?
what kind of time is this to keep?

I stumble clumsily, eyes half closed
wincing as I stub my toes
the tears well, oh damn it hurts,
where did I put my running clothes?

As I hear the dawn chorus
half blind, ouch, another bump,
I fight the urge to sneak back to bed
I must not be such a lazy grump!

Another bruise, I find my clothes
and get dressed with only a little haste
what's that spattered down my top?
No way? and yuck, I've dribbled toothpaste!

Cursing my insanity
I emerge into morning sun,
sharp frost and brightness shock my senses
I start my watch and begin to run

Arms and legs at first reluctant
soon respond as I find my pace
chuffed to be up and out this early
steady on Stef, this isn't a race!

Five miles later, and still in one piece,
I arrive home hot, sweaty and panting
refreshed and ready to face the day
no longer do I feel like ranting!

I take a moment to reflect
on how good it is to feel the power
of muscles strong and lungs filled full,
and afterwards a nice hot shower!



Oh boy, that wasn't easy to write. I hope it doesn't read like hard work.

Stef

[Harry H Howgill]

Stef

I've just noticed your wotsit (can't remember the technical term!) at the bottom of your posts. That would make a good haiku...

Happiness sneaks in
through a door you didn't know
you'd left open.

Quite true too.

[Stef F]

Good one Stef, morning sun at 2.25 though

No sun today. It was nice for the last two days after what seemed like weeks of endless rain.

An accidental caffeine induced sleepless night! Needless to say I failed to get up early and run this morning and am now struggling to keep my eyes open!

I feel a lunch time shopping trip coming on...that might wake me up a bit!

Stef

[Stef F]

Stef

I've just noticed your wotsit (can't remember the technical term!) at the bottom of your posts. That would make a good haiku...

Happiness sneaks in
through a door you didn't know
you'd left open.

Quite true too.

A footnote?
I saw it on a leaflet offering some sort of psychiatry (spelling?) It looks lovely as a haiku. Thanks for that.

[freckle]

Nice one Stef

You are putting us to shame; whilst we are all sleeping you are running and composing all at the same time.

I agree ! lovely poem stef! hope the shopping trip went well!

[Ady In Accy]

Recession

30 years working but no longer required the recession has bit with no national assistance his home is no castle it’s a shell of a fortress with its stuffing knocked out and the bank has no mercy for good honest people who for decades have contributed cash to the system and he sees on TV the handouts to migrants and can’t fathom the nation in which he is living so crawls into bed in a fetal position so fearful and nervous he ponders the future but can’t see any future the future it’s black.
By Ady.

[Stef F]

Recession

30 years working but no longer required the recession has bit with no national assistance his home is no castle it’s a shell of a fortress with its stuffing knocked out and the bank has no mercy for good honest people who for decades have contributed cash to the system and he sees on TV the handouts to migrants and can’t fathom the nation in which he is living so crawls into bed in a fetal position so fearful and nervous he ponders the future but can’t see any future the future it’s black.
By Ady.

Oh dear
Is this about you or the state of the nation?
If its you, what work were you doing?

Stef

[N-dubya]

Hello how many of you are aware that Simon Armitage is planning to walk the Pennine way North To south this year. He's asking on his website if people who live in the areas where he is stopping over would be willing to arrange aplace for him to do a reading, such as a pub, village hall etc... I reckon that there must be someone on this thread who could do something or indeed someone on the forum.

[Ady In Accy]

Oh dear
Is this about you or the state of the nation?
If its you, what work were you doing?

Stef

Just my perception of the current jobs crisis Steff.