Sunday, May 27, 2012

Swifts


Swifts

In spite of it all
The mess we have made
Humans despoiling the planet
Drought and flash-flooding
Surplus and dearth
The Earth plundered for greed
In spite of it all
Hark, hear the call!
This much is still right with the rhythm
The way that the world should turn
Swooping they come
Black brown in the blue
Here for the summer to breed
In search of the eaves
Remembering a roof
Homing from African lands
Day after day, asleep on the wing
Never a foot to the ground
Resilient returner
Announced with a shriek and a squeal
In spite of it all
Look, crack in the wall
Rejoice for the swifts are come!


27th May 2012, Hounoux by the pool

Monday, May 21, 2012

Winter in May

Winter in May

Yesterday, winter in May
Clad in a cloud
Thick cloak swirled and settled, grey
Leaching the bright, the light
To monochrome
Altogether apt

Malaise is on the prowl
Ill-defined but surely ominous
Padding in circles
The polar bear is caged

Hard to recall the blue of a pool
Summer’s first dip
Raptors wheeling in pairs
And roses suddenly rampant
Colour and scent sublime
Depression squats on the valley
All the way to Spain
Leaching the bright, the light
To monochrome


May 21st 2012, Hounoux