My heart was whole ...

I remember reading these poems -

The bright river running through the town -

There were orchards around the house - 

We danced in the garden - 

No shadows fell - 

My heart was whole, unbroken - 

March 2023

Startled by fireworks ...

We turned, startled by fireworks - 

Rockets bursting in the salty air - 

Memories of bonfires filled my head - 

The dangerous beauty of Roman Candles - 

My dad's hand lighting the match - 

His voice in my ear as he held me close - 

Swanage seafront

February 2023

Sipping chilled Moretti

I sipped chilled Moretti in The Black Cherry Cafe -

Rain was falling from the dark sky - 

The louche streets glistened - 

I waited for the comrades - 

Black Cherry Cafe 

Boscombe 

March 2023

White dazzle ...

We walked towards the garden - 

Catkins hung from the bare spears of hedgerows -

Fields were secret kingdoms - 

The clear river ran over shining stones -

A white dazzle of blossom promised summer -

March 23 2023

The ford

Moreton 

Dorset 

Marsala staining the brocade...

Dawn light -

Candles snuffed out by liveried footmen -

Facing the day -

Riding, broken, through the park -

The cards still strewn across the hearthstone -

Marsala staining the brocade -

March 2023

Upton House 

Dorset 

The eye of an ancient god ...

I thought of the world tree -

Joining sky to Underland -

I saw bare knotted branches -

The whiteness of bone -

A dark bird on the topmost branch -

The eye of an ancient god -

March 2023

Moreton