Remembering the White Wolf ...

Watching the snow falling in the darkness, I remembered when I'd first read The White Wolf of the Harz Mountains -

I'd been thirteen or fourteen, still wide eyed and green - 

I'd turned the icy pages fearfully - 

Montague Summers had whispered secrets in my ear - 

I was fascinated yet terrified by werewolf and vampire lore - 

Such snow, I thought standing at the window, had fallen upon Christina's flaxen hair - 

22.30

Thursday 1 March 2918

The Old School House

East Stoke 

Dorset 

This silent world ...

The snow fell from the white sky - 

Bare trees held up nets of icy beauty - 

I remembered the winters of my boyhood - 

*

I'd walked with my dad upon the ice of a frozen moat - 

Man high reeds had crackled when we passed through them - 

He'd shared my wonder at this new silent world - 

14.30

Thursday 2 March 2018

East Stoke

Dorset 

A new jacket ...

My dad's new jacket will be coloured green - 

It will be woven from the sky and earth - 

I'll hear his voice when I touch the weave - 

*

The wind will stir the summer leaves - 

The swallow will return from across the sea - 

13.20

Wednesday 28 February 2018

Warblington Church

Hampshire 

A bitter wind ...

I'm only doing what a mother would do for her son Anne said - 

The shivering boy hugged his knees - 

This precinct was his cruel world - 

*

A bitter wind promised snow - 

Night would fall - 

Heartless stars would fill the sky - 

12.00

Tuesday 27 February 2018

West Street 

Havant 

The moon dripped honey ...

The young are beautiful Anne said - 

I put down the photographs - 

Snow was falling - 

I remembered the perfume of apples, the warmth of silky skin -

It was summer in the bright garden - 

The moon dripped honey - 

16.00

Monday 26 February 2018

Staunton Road 

Havant  

The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea ...

We're a couple of swells Judy sang - 

We stop at the best hotels - 

My mum settled herself in the telly chair - 

Uncle Bern went by - 

I'll have a beer not tea he said - 

Judy was still singing - 

The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea she sang - 

Uncle Bern returned - 

Welcome to this planet he said - 

There doesn't seem to be a bar - 

16.00

Sunday 25 February 2018

Belmont Castle 

Portsdown 

The wind carried only promise ...

Walking towards the sea along Ballard Down was another cure for melancholy - 

Tender blossoms graced a leafless tree - 

The sky was a flawless blue above the bay - 

A yacht sailed past Old Harry - 

I saw the shadows of rooks cast fleetingly upn a quiet field - 

Catkins were heavy with pollen - 

The wind carried only pollen - 

The wind carried only promise - 

The bright grass held us under heaven - 

11.30

Saturday 24 February 2018

Ballard Down

Studland 

Dorset