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Saturday, 3 January 2026

Nights end

Corrugated tiles full on into the sun

Out of the earth as clay, crushed to dust

Pressed then dressed, fired to a thousand degrees

Now covered in frost, a nice finishing touch


Beyond the ridge, your curtains unopened

Your door with its security chain in place

The still air, unable to tap on your window

Warm breath floats, out among the coldness


The return journey is always a treasure

To settle into warmer skin with drowsy conversation

Home from the night shift, today the kilns are empty

The factory gates closed, one last time


Dust sits on the unfinished wares

The green clay waits

Tonight, and forever

I am hopeful to stay with you



Friday, 2 January 2026

Freedom

Golden sun, sprinkled frost

Hares with floppy ears

Listen to the morning run


White in the sky, a degree below

Crunches underfoot

Pedestrians passing by


The day is beginning its majestic rise

Out of the darkness

It is a glorious thing


Sands of time, days to ourselves

Breakfast over, cooker cleaned

And it's not yet nine



Thursday, 1 January 2026

Waiting Room

You arrived too early, again too early

An imposition on the smooth running

Of the organisation


Tempted by the callers message

Truly, you set off 

Way too soon


How now to kill

The spot of time

With nowhere to go


No problems to solve

No mind games

To entertain the soul


Each minute thus lasts for hours

A day becomes a lifetime

Your cold feet grow colder


Fingers numb; but still to wait

I hesitate to say that I warned you

But you have done this before



Wednesday, 31 December 2025

Needles

Layers of defences to defend you

Prayers of pretences you pretend you

Darers of suspense still suspend you


In the core, the kernel

Beneath the efficacy

Which needles alone can reach


Soothsayer we lent for you to lean on

Mystic we meant no not to mean on

Pilgrims we sent only to be seen on


In the deep, in the subterranean

In the unfathomable

Which only the needles can reach



Tuesday, 30 December 2025

Up North

Windmill

Barbed wire, broken fences

Irregular stone walls


Set against a blue sky

With a mist of silver bullets

About to pounce, or plummet


Wings of calculated dimensions

Listen to the wind, love her

For her energy, love her for her calm


And on this cold winters day

Love her for the warmth

She brings to those from fallen ground


Turn now and turn again

Show off your wares

Flaunt your infinite beauty


Set against a blue sky

With a drift of silver bullets

About to pounce, or plummet