Small stones: an exercise for January

[RichardSanders]

Glare of winter sun
burns the memory
of three weeks of
unrelenting rain
out of my head.
Where has winter gone?
Is that spring behind that cloud?

[Ros]

I pull skeletons
of leaves from the pond
without freezing
fingers to the bone

[bodkin]

four waiting
two ordering
two outside the door
-- petite --
even for a sushi place

[nar]

seven pints for seven mothers
lunchtime for weatherspoons
buggies for beds

- Neil

[RichardSanders]

The company went through a reorganization
Noone knows how the new structure works
And all look at each other questioningly
I shrug and mutter deorganization.

[bodkin]

plans, plans for plans,
plans for making plans,
plans for handling
the absence of plans,
and just rushing on
without a plan in the world

[RichardSanders]

A half moon smiles
with teeth of hollywood actors.
While golden arches on the horizon
beckon me to come digest
cardboard burgers on gummy buns

[Ros]

The old brass tap
in the empty changing room
howls

[Antcliff]

Buddha,
pass the bedda budda,
This budda’s bad.
Got bedda budda
even from my brudda
and he’s a bitter
budda bidder,
buying butts
of badly budda.

[bodkin]

four black rooks fighting
on a green square
suddenly stop
and peck the lawn

[bodkin]

walking in the winds and
walking in the woods and
walking in our scarves and
walking in the mud
with the sound of
a distant tank???

[Antcliff]

There is no tank on the island.
Never has been, I bet.
Apart from septic tanks.
Bottles of Tanqueray perhaps.
Uncle Wesley had a tank at El Alamein,
but he lost it somewhere.
I like those first world war tanks with tread all around.
I smile when they are on the telly.
You know they will break down after 3 feet.

[bodkin]

Yes, the fact is that those WWI tanks were actually no use at all, but they _looked_ great

((OK, I checked wikipedia, apparently they had "mixed but impressive" results on their first outing ))

[Antcliff]

Yes, the fact is that those WWI tanks were actually no use at all

Sassoon:

"We're sure the Kaiser loves our dear old Tanks.'

[bodkin]

traffic slow
not that late
ambulance
motorcycle
blanket

[Antcliff]

I want to build a cross betweeen
a first world war tank and riverboat
and move, slowly, around the island.
The pace would fit today.

[L.G.Werribold]

Bullfinch on a rowan branch,
Peach and pink preened puffball.
Black-capped beak, crush scarlet berries,
If I blink, I'll miss it all.

[L.G.Werribold]

I want to build a cross betweeen
a first world war tank and riverboat
and move, slowly, around the island.
The pace would fit today.

Sometimes we need to slow down... your idea sounds ideal.

[Antcliff]

Sometimes we need to slow down... your idea sounds ideal.

Might be a bit too slow. Tourist buses would back up behind it.

[Antcliff]

Bullfinch on a rowan branch,
Peach and pink preened puffball.
Black-capped beak, crush scarlet berries,
If I blink, I'll miss it all.

Like that.

No finch on my rowan;
no frill-flurrying to welcome spring;
nor softly sing.

[L.G.Werribold]

No finch on my rowan;
no frill-flurrying to welcome spring;
nor softly sing.

That wicked finch in the tree,
To forsake you, and flaunt with me!

[Ade9173]

We see each other less these days.
A meeting brought him to our town-
An awkward guest, a tacit bond
From common times and memory.

[Mic]

Now

the Alps are golden
dressed in nothing
but a slip of sun;
pine trees crowd
the mountain
slopes, snowballs
stopped mid-flight
in outstretched branches.
A turquoise sky
rolls into darkness.


(Switzerland, 26th January, 2012)

[bodkin]

a spacious alcoholic
light on narrow feet
a carefully straight weave
towed behind a can