Cows - Trudie Shannon

Tranquil cows sough softly
Their dew breath upon the evening grass,
Raising curious heads and heavy lidded eyes
To cast milky glances at the passers by.
Beyond their lazy lowing,
An invisible sun journeys earthward
Bound to join sky and sea,
As the breeze blown, rippling corn
Yearns to tap the gold stream that edges the clouds
Out of land sight.
The evening air is sweeping with residual warmth
Blessing bared skin with the hint of
a kiss.
Between rain showers fit to drown butterflies
The cows close dew eyes in slow motion.

Trudie Shannon

Around - Ian Duquemin

I'm gonna put a foot upon this train, girl
And get me away from here
I somehow know your thinkin' that's ok, girl
You kind of knew I'd disappear!
And when the train starts movin' down this runaway track
Those wheels upon the rail go a-clackety clack
It's gonna be too late to come a-runnin' right back
Cause I will be travellin' around

I'm gonna catch a boat across the sea, girl
No matter where it sails
Is an ocean far enough away from me, girl?
Or did I only need the rails?
I might be on a journey to a desolate place
We did say that we needed us a little more space
Although I have a photo packed away in my case
I might just be needing you around

I travelled round the world to get away, girl
And I walked for many years
It seemed to be forever and a day, girl
To see those happy tears
As I stand here smiling at your welcoming door
I found what I had wanted in a whole world to explore
I guess I searched for something... but I needed you more!
And it's good just having you around

Ian Duquemin

A Minute's Silence - Stephen A. Roberts

Another day, another minute's silence
how many more to stop the violence?
The mute response where words are useless,
a stunned reflection in respectful stillness

Now across all cities, the sound of sirens
another day, another act of violence
Seduced and poisoned by vicious hatred
an endless harvest has been created

Can we quieten the voice of violence -
with a mournful minute's silence?
And still the hand that gives no quarter -
bring peace to end the murderous slaughter?

Right now we all need new teachers
to lead us from misguided preachers -
to help us reject the cult of violence
and save us from another minute's silence...

Stephen A. Roberts

Poolside Mermaid - Diane Scantlebury

A little mermaid by the pool came and sat,
Snorkel and mask pinning back her golden braids
And before I had time to draw breath or make a wish,
In she dived to swim like a silvery fish,
Beneath the surface her tiny feet kicked
Churning up bubbles and small ripples with every flick,

Where each splash landed more circles would grow,
That dissolved back into the waters of the deep
With every twist and wriggle her body would throw,
A rainbow spectrum of shimmering stars
In an aquatic display of colour bizarre,

Then back to the surface with a whoosh she broke
To present to her parents the treasure she’d found,
Face beaming with pride and aglow
Clutching something in her small hand,
A plastic, pink, broken hair band.

Diane Scantlebury

Summer 2012-07-15 - Pat

Today's poem is a "Golden Oldie" and was originally published here in July 2012

Clouds scudding across blackened skies
Bursting to shed Rain, Rain, Rain
April passes May & June
Will sun ever appear again?

Empty beaches. cafes, kiosks
Fields sodden, crops go under
Forecasts tell us over & over
More rain, hail & thunder.

Birds & Plants, Nature confused
Is it Winter, Summer or Spring?
July comes outlook dismal
But we cannot alter a thing.

Maybe in August or September
The sun will shine to stop the rot
And being human, rain forgotten
We’ll all complain we’re much too hot!

Pat