The Vine

The vine 
Winds upwards,
With its own energy
Of light
Inside its leaves.
When I am still,
And uninspired,
It invites me 
To be a part of
The climb
And creation
Of beautiful things.
To connect -
Just a touch 
The hem is enough - 
To grow a bud
Along the branches.

Copyright LJ 2021

While We Drink Tea

Don't you think it's 

Enchanting

That we can let an

Orchestra

Into our room

While we drink tea?

Or let birdsong fly

Over the teapot?

That we can bring

The outside in -

Wires and windows

Manoeuvring 

Sounds 

While the walls stay

Still

But the liquid 

Rippling?

That we can drink

In company?

Copyright LJ 2021.

Fresh Air

I never thought

I'd take fresh air for granted

Then the masks came 

And the indoor rules

And suddenly 

I was gasping.

Copyright LJ 2021.

Creatures of moment

Many animals know 

Secrets of serenity

But they won't tell you them.

To learn you must

Walk alongside

A creature of moment - 

It is a living kind of knowledge 

With no spoken answer - 

And yet their peace can be heard. 

Copyright LJ 2021.

Rainbow rose

I place my rainbow rose

Against a wall of red brick 

So the yellow stands out,

Swirled around violet and vibrant pink

It may seem unnatural 

To have inky blue leaves

But the Sun gets the sunflower

Let the rainbow have one, I think.

Copyright LJ 2021.

Light blue

A knowing Cheshire Cat moon

Escorted me into the evening.

I marvelled at the light blue hue

After so much darkness and snow.

Is this why he was smiling?

I breathed in a suggestion of Spring

In the air - 

Relief into my soul.

I walked under a shy blackbird just

Beginning his nightly song

Who is out there? 

Something is awake.

Change will follow.

Copyright LJ 2021.

The Ghost of Catherine Howard

  

Snow falls and ice forms 

In front of the palace

But the chill is inside

Gliding down the chamber

Her gown ghostly white,

Watched by portraits

Who cannot move

But do not judge her -

She only ever wanted to parade,

To be seen.

Copyright LJ 2021

Flowers in Winter

The ground is covered in frost.

Underneath, the frozen buds

Are held in glass,

Grass statues.

Indoors I push my little

Rose plant into each slither of sunlight 

It smiles at me

It's the least I could do.

I turn my face to the window,

Hold it in the fragile, momentary glow. 

I understand the flowers

In Winter, the gratitude. 

Copyright LJ 2021

Evensong

I stepped out of the

Yellow light and 

White noise

Into the dark street

Lined with trees.

I had not managed to see the Sun -

This was the best I could do.

But the night blue

Was filled with black shapes

Singing,

Singing into the night -

Shadow songs,

Phantom birds

Making orchestras of branches

Above my head.

I had thought

There was nothing beautiful left of the day by then -

But the evening said: 'Listen'

There is

Everything.

Copyright LJ 2021.