A pothole

a pit
created by traffic
weather
wear
and tear
gathers rain
this unpredictable pool
of tyre pain
housing an abundance
of grit
and grime
collected over time
an asphalt mole
in the road
a pothole

Empty road clouds

don’t let
an empty road
cloud
your judgement

Waiting in the wet

a woman
in the wet
weather
waiting
for a whistleblower
being watched
through a wagon window
by wondering
wandering eyes

why not…

photographer: George Natsioulis

Telephone 📞

often left
hanging
alone
wired
to a box
you used to listen to
many hellos
laughter
sadness
lies
and frequent goodbyes
whilst swallowing
coins
for money
used
and put down
you life saver
a sacRED shelter
in every other street
in town

~image by Simon Gradwell

First sun

first sun
what fun
no more depression
after spring
has sprung

april is here
flowers in gear
roses coming out
all the children
bloody shout

first sun
such fun
the rays are here
and the noise begun

A courtyard of stone

an old man
playing a violin
devotes
his melancholy notes
to the sun
a blue sky
and a few birds
passing by
whilst forgotten chansons
echo off the walls
of shut shops
beneath a plane tree
almost alone
he brings tears
and joy
to a courtyard of stone

Reigns of sunshine

always here
always there
with sovereign strength
illuminating
at great length
dominating heat
we can’t beat
much longer
the reigns
of sunshine
are getting stronger

To the forest

rising damp
steam and smoke
misty sunlight
like a faded lamp
gazing upon dead wood
covering moist soil
the earth breathing
through snugly moss
trees waving
wandering gust

I should go to the forest
I really must…

The clouds are crying

there’s no denying
the clouds are crying
acid rain
is here again
a polluted stain
on all our forsaken lands
whilst we hold our hands
walking into extinction

Footprints 👣 in the snow

you absorb
my footprints
as they leave
an impression,
capturing them
in quick succession

a transitory imprint
sustains
afore your
graceful retreat
when the sun comes up
and turns on the heat

Continues drizzle

gently
steadily
drip drip drip…

I may
just have
another kip

Bipolar

M2 gay bears
were dancing on ice,
playing a game,
rolling the dice

The ice began to melt
as the heat was on;
all the love they had felt
had sunk and was gone…

Glasgow 🌎

charade
charade

there’s more money
to be made

it makes the world
go round

to greed
we are bound

for greed
we shall bleed

as it’s not fresh air
but money that we need

How snug

how snug…

a bare
bear hug

Slug trail

the mark
the trail
the path
it took
to stain
my glass
with slime
Sublime!

The sun makes dust dance

it does…

Petrichor

an earthly scent
nature’s perfume
natural
and fresh
comes with the rains
partly acid
awaking the air
and our mortal flesh

Screen door

aluminium and mesh
held by squeaky hinges
welcomes
a gentle entry
of air
frequently fresh
oft carried
by a soft summer’s breeze
passing from porch to pantry
keeping bugs at bay
backing the back
and the front door
all seasons
night and day

Snow

a virgin blanket
sewed with frozen powdered aqua
covering the lands
light and white
forsaken
at the hands
of the sky…

a soft throw;
I think it’s called snow

Dark grey clouds

through the small space
between my curtains
I can’t help but notice
dark grey clouds
slowly moving
and hovering
over leafless trees

I pray for more natural beauty
I am on my knees