Winter bones are rattling.
A late autumn wind is burying the fallen.
Frost stipples the light of dawn.
Storm gulls and hawks
have chased the songbirds away.
My black coat flaps
like a broken crow wing.
Halloween is immanent,
it is coming with white-faced
killer clowns.
I have already eaten the KitKats
put aside for the kids.
Sugar-toothed search parties
are seeking more chocolate ammo.
The Fall is stripping
like a day-time hooker.
Meanwhile,
pall-bearing squirrels
slowly retreat to their well-stocked drays
in somber array.
Categories:
drays, poetry,
Form: Free verse
Shop bells tinkling from eight 'til late
queuing customers having to wait;
Thursday,closing at noon
opportunity to court and spoon.
Collection boxes built into walls,
gossiping ladies in their shawls;
Bells pealing on the hour,
drays pulled by one horse power.
Factory hooters' blowing
Morning cockrels' crowing;
Cycle bells a-ringing,
Provisions from vans' a-bringing.
Categories:
drays, life, nostalgia,
Form: Bio
The twigs of March drip, and dangle ~ late in the day
birdsong returns. New veins leach in the leaf
there are florets of sap-sweet offerings.
From oracle rings earth worms rise up from a mud,
then wade-in to wet nurse the soil.
For the young, this is a time for naked toes
and muddy faces. For the younger, the land suckles
with its bare hands. The old watch the seep,
hear the suck of a million open mouths
beneath the leak of muddling mists.
New birthed lambs bleat to be fed,
be strengthened against returning lions.
March is kind only for a spell, for who can tell?
There are rumors of dragons in coming winds.
For now, young shoots struggle forth
there is a quickening reach, a tufted greening.
Dens and drays are fat with new birthed cubs
that play and mew in Marches bustle
uplifted now in a mucky coddle.
Categories:
drays, poetry,
Form: Free verse
The leaves coated the ground in a tapestry of colour,
strewn around like matting hiding all sorts beneath.
A woven carpet that blanketed the earth with hues
of Autumn colours as slowly they returned to dust.
The trees seeming ten times taller without their cladding,
reaching, stretching high branches stark and bare
Knots now clearly seen as they twist this way and that
forming complex shapes high up in the grey skies.
The ground now cooling with Summer long forgotten.
A light sprinkling of frost slowing melting in weak sunlight.
Forming icicles that adorn like sparkling jewellery all a-glitter.
And the cold North wind sweeps over the hills and Vales.
Now all turn dormant, curled up in their winter dens and drays.
Hibernating the cold stark months away, food stashed close to hand.
The temperature falls day by day and in sweeps the snow not settling yet.
As the hours pass it slowly blankets the ground in pristine white.
Winter has now arrived and claimed all as her own!
Categories:
drays, autumn, nature,
Form: Verse
I see beyond the crosses
In the snow covered field
Like soldiers in formation
For whom our hearts aren't healed
I see beyond the sacrifice
Of those that gave their life
And with their faith to guide them
Left a husband, child, or wife
I see beyond the caisson
That a single stallion drays
Committing one more hero
Feel the pain their loss conveys
I see beyond the sadness
Carried by the bugles trill
The sense of loss hangs heavy
As if the earth stood still
I see beyond the honor guard
And their shots fired in salute
A tribute to their brother
Who before them now lays mute
I see beyond all these things
With my heart if not my eye
But what I cannot see beyond
Is why they had to die
Written for the "I See Beyond" contest
Categories:
drays, death, loss, war, loss,
Form: Rhyme
Shop bells tinkling from eight 'til late
queuing customers having to wait;
Thursday,closing at noon
opportunity to court and spoon.
Collection boxes built into walls,
gossiping ladies in their shawls;
Bells pealing on the hour,
drays pulled by one horse power.
Factory hooters' blowing
Moring cocks' a crowing;
Cycle bells a-ringing,
Food home delivery a-bringing.
Categories:
drays, life, nostalgia, on work
Form: Light Verse