A humid day,
mosquito clouds swarm along
a red dirt road to the farm.
There are grimy rows of pig pens,
hazed dark by humming hordes
of black fly.
Bob (an old friend), chuckles.
“Man, you picked the wrong time of year
to come visit.”
The hogs grunt and squeal.
He waves,
“be with you soon.”
It’s slop-time - the air is turgid
with the many notes of a stale miasma,
everywhere there is the splatter
of slime and muck.
He carries smeared green buckets;
a deleterious, partly consumed gunk
that reeks of that semi-solid swill
hogs grow fat upon.
On the low walls
there are slick stains, layers of grime;
a smeared feculence
corrugated into noxious layers.
Even behind the stalls
there are a heaps
of sludge and slurry.
Bob flushes surfaces down
with his long hosepipe.
He bends to his tasks whistling happily
while I explain to my new wife
that he used to work for the C.I.A.
I can see she’s surprised,
maybe impressed.
Long pause…
watching Bob wade knee deep
into his labor of love.
“Yea”, I sighed,
“he got real tired of all that."
```````````````
an edit
reservoir stock low
hosepipe ban comes into force
dark clouds are looming
The ban comes into force today ... the irony is we live on a little Island surrounded by sea (alas we do not have a desalination plant)!
8/3/18
Hot arid summer, I yearn for cooling rain
this endless heat wave; my once lush lawn’s now brown
and from the use of sprinklers I must refrain
we should conserve water as others will frown
I depend on raindrops from my water butt -
can’t use a hosepipe as my neighbours may tut!
My wilting plants urgently need a cool drink
a rain shower may rescue them from the brink
ababccdd rhyme scheme
Checked with how many syllables
Picture me a summer Rispetto Contest
Sponsored by Barry Stebbings
7/8/18
haikai
**********
Summertime Theme
summertime sunshine
finds a gap in the curtain
lights up my true love
the summer sun
burns respite clouds shadows
much needed rain
we all enjoy fun
summer holidays no rain
we all pay the price
hosepipe ban will come
flora fauna begging drinks
worms now out of reach
black headed gulls
tap dancing mimicking rain
nothing there to fool
summertime its joy
can become cries for help
don't forget cream up
ducks waddle bare beds
dried up rivers lakes and ponds
keep your bird baths filled
*******************
A TANKA WARNING
mums remember
do not lose your children
make them prisoners
for indeed the sun takes none
take sun in doses... not one
*****************************
Winter
Winter glows, it's drifts, it's plains, soft and white.
It's cold belies a threat to all, fear it!
It's there come night or day death don't forget!
Wrap up warm, keeps death at bay, heed, now play!
Spring
If it sticks to form, new life created.
Greedy winter lingers Jack Frost fickle.
Climate change is causing all life to stress!
But she, Mother Nature forced, her plight doomed!
Summer
The best for a very long time, warning,
Presents problematic drought, hosepipe bans!
Use it wisely, enjoy, have loads of fun.
Summer, time for laughter, seaside picnics.
Autumn
The end results of spring, summer, their plight!
For most flora, respite and autumn hues,
Orange, yellow and red and gold, enjoy!
Eyesights, banquets, behold the joy of death!
Climate Change
The cause, planet earth has tilted, a fact!
Nothing to do with pollution but heed
Don't be complacent pollution must stop!
It does affect and help climate warming!
I purchased a rabbit named Brandy
By jingo, that young buck was randy
It caused such a to do
When he humped my left shoe
Thank goodness the hosepipe was handy!
HAPPY EASTER SOUPERS
3/27/18
Showers, storms, drizzle, rain,
The English ‘summer’s’ here again,
It’s way too hot or way too cold,
There’s no mid-range, it’s uncontrolled.
We get three days of muggy heat,...
No air, a storm and then repeat,
But though rains fallen since early Jan,
By May there’ll be a hosepipe ban!
Whilst other countries cope with strains,
Of tropical storms and hurricanes,
The whole of England slows to a crawl,
With the slightest wind and mild rainfall.
When the sun is shining we say its muggy,
When the rain is falling its way too soggy,
With the lightest wind "we’re gonna freeze",
Basically we just can’t be pleased!
Whether heat or wind or driving rain,
It’s very British to complain.
So whether we’re too cold or we’re too hot,
Seems we’re only happy when in fact we’re not!
That morning! Seemed to arise late
And I was to get up earlier that day;
No time to feel that salubrious ambiance,
And no minute to yawn or relax!
Coz, hundreds and fifties were waiting before my turn!
Yes, it was for the priceless fluid-
Flows like a silver surge on a hosepipe.
Women frenzied with their containers
And men appalling near them!
And I with a nostalgic deliberation-
Pondered why it was made insufficient?
After a series of thoughts-flashed the certainty:
Everything’s because of us and only because of us!
I then muted myself and moved ahead for my turn, unwilling to lose my chance for it.
Flowers seek the sun-
As newborn lambs find their feet
Life begins anew.
The sweltering sun-
Beams down on summertime fun
Hosepipe ban again.
Leaves fall from the trees
How the nights start closing in.
Everything dying.
Snow on the hilltops
Nothing seems to be alive
Except crackling fires.
Sun and rain give life-
Once more to countrysides.
Spring is here again.
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