Autumn

Checking the trees in nearby streets

Trying to work out when our silver birch will reveal its bare branches

Kicking through the fallen leaves

The sun exaggerating the colours of those still clinging on

The price we pay is darker evenings

Condensation on the car

The first frost

Floodlights

Soup back on the menu

Scarf back round the neck.

Stu Shanty

I have a friend, his name is Stu

Buying records is what he'll do

He'll listen one time or maybe two

And then buy something new

Buy buy your records Stu

Now you're buying cassettes too

Buy a shirt from 1972

That is what you do

He prints books for David Gedge

His beard is like a rustic hedge

He thinks he's a total ledge

I fear that might be true

Buy buy your records Stu

Now you're buying cassettes too

Buy a shirt from 1972

That's why we love you

You plum

The Passenger

Three minutes late, the train hauled itself slowly out of the station. She settled back into her seat, thankful that no one had joined her table. 

As the lights of the town disappeared into the night her mind drifted to think of the early women train passengers. The 'experts' had said that women were too delicate to travel by train. That if they went over 50 miles an hour their insides might fall out. 

How did those women feel when they travelled safely for the first time? The men who'd always made the rules, cowering behind a screen in case a woman exploded as the train hit a certain speed, were wrong about that - so what else were they wrong about? 

Was it this simple act of rail travel, that we now take for granted. that empowered women to begin to challenge the established ideas that had been imposed on other areas of their lives? 

She wanted to believe it. Needed to believe it. Their strength would fuel her strength.

As the train gathered speed she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  She knew what she had to do.

--

(Writing challenge on the words - 'As the train gathered speed')

Imperial Fledermaus

I walked up two flights of silver stairs

The crows look very different today

Every moment of truth

You can't compete with it

Suffering

I can't get it now but I can get it

French windows don't open any more

'cause I'm on the outside of time

In silence

Another balloon string held at bay

I can't get it now but I can get it

Sent out into the cold again

But they went off forever

More time to wonder

And I'm beyond redemption

I can't get it now

But I can get it

(A found poem based on one line from the tracks on the Fall's 'Imperial Wax Solvent' album (in track list order) and extra lines from Von Sudenfed's 'Fledermaus Can't Get It')

The Feather

I spied Spider-Man in his espadrilles, he was on the esplanade

I was eager to enquire about his latest escapade.

He said: "I'll catch you at the cafe, once I've conquered the arcade.

Take a table on the terrace, mine's a lime and lemonade."

We spoke of past and present, and the life that we had planned

Then set about our sandwiches, to the sound of a brass band

There was a flimsy feather floating, guided by an unseen hand.

Fluttering forlornly, it fell forgotten on the sand.

As we mused upon this metaphor, we both went misty-eyed

There was no need to say a word, no need for whens or whys.

We polished off our puddings and said a sad goodbye, 

Had a hug, then hurried home and got on with our lives.

Changes aka I Saw the Signs

The dog that only barked at buses now barks at other things

The telephone that glowed red hot now hardly ever rings

Where once lay shagpile carpet

Is now just laminate floor

The clock has stopped

The penny's dropped 

And I don't love you any more.

Quordle Poem One

The music blared out down by the canal

The bass was distorted, the lyrics banal

Bunny danced on her own, people looked at her oddly

The church bells rang out to welcome the Godly.

21/7 - music, banal, bunny, godly