This week’s poem inspired by the stunning contrasts between my new home town of Nyborg on Fyn in Denmark and my beloved Dhaka, which I left a few short weeks ago. Contrasts which make everything more vivid and notable.
Roads
From the corner of my eye
occasional cars through glass
on neat, sunlit street.
Remembering
wonder-filled frustration
in Dhaka’s mid-morning chaos.
Nyborg 2016
A short visit to Tuscany was something which could not be contained in a single poem. so here is a second one, while the memories of those beautiful days are still fresh.
Tuscany Landscape
Olive groves, yellow-furred almonds,
row upon row of ripening grapes.
Maize dust-pale for harvest,
head-drooping sunflower schools,
stubble lands waiting for ploughs
or winter bareness.
Ochre red, yellow terracotta roofed
historical villages climbing
steep-sided Tuscany hills,
patiently patrolled by Italian cypress.
Below, late summer
hardiness hints of Africa,
above, high blue whispers dust
on far horizons.
Burnt sienna afternoon air,
lizards flick at visions edge,
butterflies explode colour bombs,
while cicadas enthusiastically file
dry, dry tunes on string instruments.
Chianni, Tuscanny, 2016
This week’s poem, inspired by a beautiful week celebrating Mum’s 80th birthday in Italy. Lots of time with siblings and family… and yoga on the lawn overlooking the morning landscape.
Tuscany Yoga
Gold and silver sunrise,
flame streaked sky. Soft hills
rise from softer mist. Silence
broken by morning birds
busy in dew dripping fig trees.
Cautious kitten months away
from first avian catch
contents herself with insects. Fingers oiled,
scented by crushed lemon leaves.
Sisters’ sun salutation on hillside lawn.
Chianni, Tuscany 2016
This week’s much delayed poem, inspired by the long flights, rushes and delays that make up intercontinental travel when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Dusseldorf 2016