Bluebells

I meandered happily on my way
to Grasmere via Loughrigg Fell
When all at once I spied a haze,
a purple peal of spring bluebells,
ringing in peace in the morning breeze
near the rocky path along the fell

Blue heads bobbing, clappers mute,
en masse an iridescent violet hue,
amidst the brown unfurling whorls
of knee-high bracken’s baby fronds
A purple peal of spring bluebells
Seen from the path on Loughrigg fell

Laid out below is Grasmere Water -
a jig-saw vista in green and blue
Beyond the bluebells’ violet hue
A swimmer stroked from shore to shore
a doggie paddled paw by paw
The terrace view half down the fell

The route zig-zagged down through the woods
It was cooler, darker, but the silver shine
of mirrored waves danced through the trees
as Grasmere water’s kissed by the breeze
which wafted wild garlic - repulsive smell
as I followed the path at the foot of the fell

Beside the lake, I saw the road
bringing tourists in by the coach load,
to visit William Wordsworth’s home
My purple peal of spring bluebells
tolled out in silence from the fell
and asked “Where are all the daffodils?”

Would like to meet...

A cut-up from real postings:
Petite charming blonde likes food, with cute self baggage, into country age, blue swimming and spiritual shopping seeks tall, classical latin partner for earth fire, dark films and ends away!

Guildford Castle

Where moss grows memory lingers
We used to come here and play hide and seek
But now the keep fence, like gappy teeth
Seems quite insubstantial given the drop

Crisp-edged beds with floppy pansies
Perfect primulas with kale-like leaves
Cat-kin droopy blooms sway on the breeze
Like tassels on a dancer’s dress

The old castle walls tell a geological story
A school photo of flints all lined in rows
These tough stones standing up to a world
That has worn away the soft white chalk

Quotes by Isaac Newton

"I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."

"Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy."

"Men build too many walls and not enough bridges. "

"If I have been able to see further, it was only because I stood on the shoulders of giants."

Sad Rock Villanelle

I look at you but in your eyes I see my dad
As you play your guitar in front of this crowd
I watch you play and I feel pleased but sad

I look at you but in your face I see your granddad
As your fingers pick the lead fast and loud
I look at you but in your eyes I see my dad

The bass player’s dull, the drummer’s mad
Your fast-fingered solo captivates the crowd
I watch you play and I feel pleased but sad

He played and wrote songs too, did dad
If he could see you he’d be so proud
I look at you but in your eyes I see my dad

You are so confident, any mum would feel glad
Even if my insides vibrate as it’s so loud!
I watch you play and I feel pleased but sad

My tears are not for you - don’t feel bad
Its dark, I’ll lose myself here in the crowd
I look at you but in your eyes I see my dad
I watch you play and I feel pleased but sad

Snow Sestina

Introduction: This is a form in which the end words in each line form a sytematic pattern for each verse - see Wikipedia.

Overnight the north wind changed our world to white
No buses, no bin men, no cars on the road
Its 12 inches thick this beautiful snow
It covers roofs, roads and trees it’s a tranquil scene
Life has ground to a halt – there is even no school
Let’s go for a walk and take some photos

The BBC received a record numbers of photos
As we show off our beautiful world in white
Kids go sledging, more fun than school
Feet make a channel as they trudge down the road
The downs are transformed into an alpine scene
They are even skiing and snowboarding in the freak fall of snow

Its 18 years since we’ve had this much snow
The snow on the Acer makes a stunning photo
Wherever you look it’s a Christmas card scene
With buildings and landscape all iced in white
A snow plough made waves of snow by our road
Day two, minus six and there’s still no school

Free from homework, routine and school
They spend all day sledging in the snow
Then trudge wearily back down the road
A press photographer was on the slopes taking photos
To be a centrefold in black and white
Hats, scarves and sledges in a Dickensian Scene

Stoke Park is a weird Arctic scene
Kids have been building instead of going to school
They've made igloos and candle-lit towers of white
Fantastic constructions just made out of snow
My desktop is now my best snow photo
Traffic is starting to creep along the road

Wet boots, soggy clothes as they return down our road
The laundry room is a depressing scene
Piles of washing - not a pretty photo
I think they’re ready to return to school
They’re beginning to tire of playing in the snow
Getting cold and hungry - pinched faces all white

Relief - we have reached the end of the white road
Our snow scene is washing away in the rain
School is open and sledging photos are in local paper

Poem commended

Just heard today that my poem Sad Rock http://write-track.blogspot.com/2008/12/sad-rock.html has been commended by Writers' Forum Magazine and I will be named in the April issue. How exciting for my first competiton entry!