evening's artwork

But of Creation's richest storehouses
evening artwork is the best
in reds and blues
of different hues,
yellows and greens
and changing scenes,
the craftsman of the skies

proclaims his skill.
Each moment nuance
styles the view
a myriad of canvasses
at the closing eye of the day.

Haiku

In garden sunshine

the sweet smell kiss from a rose

England at its best

31. Alone

Unashamed in its isolation

the sentinel sentry

guards the village boundary.

Yews grow at its side

manning the graves,

privates on the parade ground

attending at attention.

In the quiet, before the trumpet sounds,

all is at peace.

30. Shell

On a reluctant shoreline

the discarded shell

rusts into oblivion.

abandoned by its soul.

Shipwrecked by age

it creaks and whines its goodbyes

to an ignoring wind

and sinks

below the weeds of time.

.

29. Pieces of eight

tree stump mathematics

nought plus nought

equals eight

a home for beetle and bug

and the imaginations

of children

sliced tree

stumped for the moment

28. Turning to the sun

We do not hide in shadow

our petalled finery;

we do not skulk in corners

but shout that we are free.

And all who seek for beauty

see how wondrous that we are

in white and yellow galaxies

outshining nightly stars.

27. The wind creeps

The wind creeps,

its wormy meander

out-battles brick and stone,

whittling faces into their faces

and character into their wasted defiance.

26. Closing in

A drizzling curtain

draws darkness across the day

a vanishing point.

25. Family

This is a huddle

this cuddle of ours

and woe betide

those outside

our conglomerated

glowers.

24. Complicated

We are looking,

the camera, the lady and me.

We are in different places

and that colours

what we see.

I am in the reflection

but I cannot see your face

for I can see mine.

The camera sees us both

but I am behind.

Now

that’s

complicated.

23. Beyond the eye

Beyond the eye,

the talon bleached with blood,

beyond the hushed beat of wing

and the haunting call,

beyond the words

that poets sing; this king,

this lord of ensnaring nightfall

considers……

22. Evening

The sun sets beyond ancient stones

calling for the quietude of night

and the guiding paths of stars.

Day sacrifices its rule

on the altar of time

for the resurrection of sleep.

21. Starburst

Praising the warm sun

you reach for the wanton sky

mirroring its rays.

20. Dangerous voile

The spider’s silken fingers

span the abyss of branches

a shimmering, dangerous, voile.

My love cloaks you

in its rich tightness  

and holds you close.

19. Winding up the universe

Moving around the sun

an unoiled universe

clanks and cranks

and scrapes through space.

Tomorrow comes

with the winding

and the key

is within reach.

18. Reeds

The lake twitches with thatch,

the crisp morning air

combing the frosty fingered fringes.

Rustling, unseen, bodies

quaver their foraging

in this refrigerator of a day

Even the quietest of approaches

crunches a warning

and startled birds

make their escape

from linear boundaries.

17. Debris

At water's edge

the congregation

gather to hymn

a god of plenty,

a responsibility of none,

awaiting absolution

from a tidyteam.

Abandoned by

abandoned lives,

lying empty,

awaiting absolution

without effort.

16. Ray

The hide and seek spotlight

splashes a puddle

with bright glistening.

Fingered shadows

follow discretely

with their conspiracy

to secrete.

15. Flowing

 

Flowing,

a robe of life -

the high speed garnish

of distant clouds

a cat-lick tongue

kissing root and stem.

Singing,

a melody

spilling between moments

stuttered crescendo

of silvered song.

14. The dreams of cats

(Dylan)

In a purrfect world

this snuggledom of peace

courts like a womb

warm and shielding

from a life outside.

13. Waiting

 

The empty pedestal

awaits a latent saint

currently stirring

from the pew

in contemplative hymnology.

12. Dragon

 

 

Breathing mystery clothes in shrouded

dark foreboding;

stranger than dreams

the fiery fear

of tomorrow.

11. Summoned by bells

‘Summoned by bells’,

not the majestic clanging

of Sunday morning

‘come all ye’,

but the tinkled heraldry

and fascination of flame.

The allure of cherub/angel spin

draws the imagination

and inquiry

of enthralment.

10. Skies

Evening pyrotechnics

draw the day to a close

in celebration.

Daylight eyes close

and the dreaming night

begins its lullaby.

9. Entrances

In the entrancing,

opportunities unveil;

doorways to heaven.

8. Patterns

Crowded footprints litter the sky

running to the horizon -

cloudy reminders

of weather.

7. Waving

The salty greeting

of moon drawn applause

spanks parched sands

with its hello.

6. Dream

The child in me

touches the dream

and is not satisfied.

5. Morning

 

The day calls your name

as the embrace of moments

shares its windy kiss.

4. Steps

 

We travel through today

wearing yesterday with each step

until it is levelled

with the passing.

3. Repose

3. Repose.

Open for business

the arboreal hotel

welcomes

the sleep of minutiae.

2. Grasp

2.   Grasp (haiku) 

The sky within grasp 
fills the breezes with sighing

and breathing of leaves.

1. Resolve

1. Resolve.

The New Year laps the shore

hungry for attention,

I will listen

to its flowing.