As rainbows shimmer

As rainbows shimmer

Even the sodden farms
their fields winter dun or darker,
sparkle, shine under luminous sky
muddy tracks now waterlogged
are silver strips
there's lime and light, spring promise
green patchworked with the browns
and all the spectrum red to violet
in garlands strung
as rainbows shimmer, shameful
on spiders' ancient webs

28th February 2015, Hounoux

Preserved like plums

Preserved like plums

I see my feet
brown like an egg and small
warm from the sun, in sandals
last year's Start-Rite
my short toes free, the toe-cap cut
by mother with a razor blade
was the leather red? 

I see my arms
also bare beneath the sleeves, puffed
pale blue and knees
summer-coloured, with a scab
soon ready for the picking
always war-wounds then
when life was all outdoors
with dirt in finger nails

and time was not yet learned
from the checkered china clock
or the Victory jigsaw, seasons in each corner
but told instead by the cress seeds
wet on cotton wool
egg-box sprouting, ready yet for tea?
Sandwiches with crusts removed
or the bean on blotting paper
jam jar on window sill.

Long days then from dawn till dusk
when I was near the ground
so noticed worms, wasps, stones
(collected those with holes for luck)
knew the smell of pineapple on mayweed
threaded on a stalk
flicked plantain heads for catapults
joined daisies in a chain

I see my feet
on the garden gate, perhaps my brother's too
where we have climbed for lookouts
mother must have said
to watch and wait for dad's return
six day week routine
another country then unreachable 
but technicolour clear
preserved like plums in a bottle
sweet in memory

25th February 2015, Hounoux, for my friend Wendy, some sunshine for your day

Dust on a sunbeam

Dust on a sunbeam

Four days now separate my time with you
time out of time, three weeks
that now in memory glow, rounded and perfect
a scene in a snow globe where glitter floats
dust on a sunbeam

And now that I am elsewhere
the enchantment in the past
can I pin down the magic, woven spell
tell how it is
how you hug and hold me
light bright in your eyes
shed tears to show you're glad
hold out a hand to help, take my bag, lock my bike
tell me to sit whilst you pin jasmine
and roses, hibiscus, sunflowers
in my hair and declare
no irony, Beautiful!
and somehow I suspend  my disbelief
all cynicism flown?

You offer coffee, food you've made with love
at dawn, rising early
you gently press for a date, a visit to your homes
where family wait smiling, pleased at our return.
For all these days we cycle to your village
cries of Vanicum! Hi how are you? Smiles and salutes
Good morning mam!
And love is shown in care and concern
are we well, have we eaten, quick the fan, take your rest.

Though some would struggle, find it all too much
the fuss and food
for me it's never so
just a miracle of love 
shown in the small and daily
cherishing
tears as we depart
connections made, whole-hearted
my soul fed
a golden snow globe glitter 
glow

1st February 2015, Home Stay Marari Beach Kerala, for Pam and Wendy.

Thin as a stick

Thin as a stick

Thin as a stick a lizard lurches
slips down the door frame
freezes still
the air in the room mercifully moves
fan-swirled
a ghost of a breath
my body beached, beaten by the heat
evaporates the sweat, wet, in rivulets
coconut fronds wave
desultory, flicker and clack
as January days grow hot
glass is rising, daily soars
my body, beached
no lizard
is beaten by the heat 

January 31st, Marari Beach Home Stay
 

In Kerala there's half a moon

In Kerala there's half a  moon

In Kerala there's half a moon
flat on its back and strange
not as it hangs in the west
but slung in a blue-black sky
hot wind in the night, pulling
and pound of the sea
relentless its rhythm and rise
rising to fall, over again
ceaseless and over again.
Time and the tides
magical moon
high in the hot black sky.

30th January 2015, Marari Beach, Kerala

This India

This India

India teems swarms sweats
full sun throbbing
insists and persists
thrum thrum of a drum
train rattle and clack, clackety clack

India teems swarms sweats
life is cheap work is hard
days are long life is short
the pulse and the beat, heat
the colour and culture, our custom this culture
this India
our way

Daily and dear
the rituals are strong, the heart beat insists
in spite of the squalor, the problems the pain
survival a struggle
no justice no pity, just poojah and prayer
the gods here are legion
entwined in our custom our culture
our lives, daily worship at shrines

Pray for a baby a girl or a boy
for health, education, a chance to succeed
for work and for marriage, enough food to eat
that life will be better, this life or the next
this India our India
in spite of the filth and the foetid, fight to survive
the pity the pain
astounding appalling
the gorgeous the vile 
beloved our country our birthplace
this India our culture
our way

23rd January 2015, RUHSA campus, for my family in India with so  much love

Today's frames frozen

Today's frames frozen

Today's frames frozen clicked and stored
mind's eye, treasure trove

express in a rattle and clatter whistle and wind
too close as I cross the track

mashed and messy brash
magenta yellow clash, funeral garlands
strewn and fresh-dropped cattle dung

skinny-legged hen strutting
and afterwards her skinny-legged raggle-straggle,
dusty powder puffs

silly goats in a wayward huddle
eddying out of line

women on the wall watching
laughing as we go by, 
giggling children too, calling Hi

mam welcome you come
flowers for you pin flowers
which you like in your hair?

small brown legs jumping dancing
bursting full of beans
dark eyes bright, young life

last and gorgeous 
a flight of turquoise blue
lost in the trees then perched, slash of red at the beak
white vent, posed for a photograph
kingfisher, still in the sun

13th February 2015, RUHSA, for Jude, photographer