A cobweb of memory

A small hand touched mine as I turned the pages -

I saw my name, written many times -

The classroom a cobweb of memory -

May 2026 

Dark birds

Anne says there'll be a thunder storm -

The air is still -

Dark birds fly over the pine trees -

East Stoke

May 2026

Waiting

Waiting for the story my blood will tell -

Now breathing different air -

Becoming smoke -

A pale shape in the summer garden -

May 2026 

I know you said

I was the first to leave the sauna -

Darting across the sand -

Past bright pedalos -

Sunbathing dads -

Swimming in the Bank Holiday sea -

I turned to see you follow -

You were with Amanda, one of your dearest friends -

I swam up to you -

All I knew was your smile and the joy of the waves -

This is wonderful I said -

I know you said -

Studland 

May 2026 

Low tide at South Beach

Walking towards the sea on ribbed sand -

Low tide -

Seaweed curling round my ankles in the shallows -

Pine trees above the green shore -

The joyous shock of the waves -

Afterwards, the warmth of the guernsey -

The memory of your voice -

South Beach 

Studland 

May 2026

The darkening garden

Birdsong in the darkening garden -

A gentle wind stirring the leaves of the apple tree -

A crescent moon in the flawless sky -

The Old School House 

East Stoke

May 2026 

A gift from heaven

I read Gore Vidal's Julian in the Lizzie Gardens -

Jake launches hot wheels down a slide -

Sun tanned nanas push grandchildren in swings -

Long legged girls out of school beguile awkward boys -

A bright river is shaded by shapely trees -

I wear a dark blue shirt -

I put down the book -

Jake's laughter is a gift from heaven -

Salisbury 

May 2026