We took our son on his new biketo the old town. Right along the harbour we wentand while we were all looking the other wayhe turned to say ‘I just saw a dolphin in real life!’ Immediately excited, I turnedto look into those broad blue waters, which were starting to phosphoresce with evening light:I wanted to... Continue Reading →
Easter Sonnet Sunday #4: An Easter Bonnet by Nick Reeves
Both heels of his palms, this Easter, held redpunctures; Caesar’s crest, grace and pardon.He gifted his wrists to his pockets and bledblooms, like the roses in a Roman garden. From the terrace she watched the pageant unfold:Bowered petals showered the crowd in the streetand lovers, on scooters, cheered and threw goldand blue powder; dust from... Continue Reading →
Easter Sonnet Sunday #3: At Easter Time by Valdis Stakle
At Easter time I first did meet my loveShe came to me one night when it was springDescended, so it seemed, from high aboveShe sang a song that she alone could sing At first my mind was riven, filled with fearMy feelings clouded by a troubled mindBut then her love it shone so bright and... Continue Reading →
Easter Sonnet Sunday #2: Easter Eggs by Sarah Connor
How could you think of Easter without eggs?Shiny, foil-wrapped, hidden around the garden,small girls in nighties with their sturdy legsand boys in jammies, seeking, ardent?And boiled eggs, with their brightly painted shellswaiting for you to crack them. Inside, white and gold,like spring itself - blossom and daffodils.Winter is suddenly something we can holdand crack wide open.... Continue Reading →
Easter Sonnet Sunday #1: We seek a Saviour
We seek a Saviour in these troubled timesto lead us to some fabled promised landwe bind our hearts, wrap up our dreams as rhymesare scattered like so many grains of sand upon the windy beach, where yet we waitfor spring tides swell and rise to ease our painand search the far horizon, always lateto reach... Continue Reading →
Chronicles of Lockdownia #17: Finale
In the dead of night we come upon the castle. We are an army. An army of the forgotten. An army of the usurped, the persecuted and betrayed. We have brooked long lockdowns and isolation, to the point where we almost became locked down at heart. But always within the heart there is a spark,... Continue Reading →
Just call on Ollie… #poetry #fitness
I have a personal trainerand his name is Ollie:if you want to shed those lockdown poundsjust call on Ollie. He will not let you stop to drinkhe shows no mercyand don’t you even stop to think you’re tired, or thirsty. He’ll make you race him down the hillalong the seashorethen all the way back up againscreaming... Continue Reading →
Twitter Poetry Week 13
A whole quarter year has passed in this Twitter Poetry Challenge. So I guess I'm not feeling as excited about #NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) as everyone else is. But I did add it to the tags of my Twitter poems for good measure. I also gave myself a break on Wednesday (day 90) because... Continue Reading →
The Anthropocene Hymnal is now closed for submissions
Thank you so much to everyone who has taken part and submitted work to this anthology. It is a project close to my heart, as my aim is to raise awareness of the joint crises of climate change and biodiversity loss that we are facing as a human race, and as part of the vast... Continue Reading →
Experiments in Taste #6: Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup
Lentils are a great source of protein in a vegan diet. They are also healthy, delicious and very versatile. I've already mentioned the nutritional benefits of sweet potato in a previous post, so here is a dish which combines these two fantastic ingredients. Ingredients 1 large onion, finely chopped.2-3 cloves garlic, minced.1-2 fresh chillis, finely... Continue Reading →