I’m happy to have another poem in this month’s Visual Verse: An Anthology of Art and Words, Volume 8, Chapter 1, for which the image is an unusual one, a cartoon by John Samuel Pughe/Library of Congress. As ever, I’m in good company with Misky, Anmol and Kerfe, to name a few. Why not read […]
Grandmother’s Radio
Before I left herfor another lifewith parents and sisters,pop music and Radio Luxembourg,she gave me‘Listen with Mother’ storiesand old songs from the music hall. When I returned, feeling unwanted,she ironed while I twiddled the dial,found midday comedies and quizzes,and afternoon playsfor when it rained. I still listen while I iron,smoothing out life’s creases. Kim M. […]
Hoarfrost
fragile beautywritten with frosty fingersa dawn haiku cranberries covered with sugara taste of winteryet to come first hoarfrostfragile cobweb spans the gatemagical Kim M. Russell, 24th November 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1840 Hoarfrost Chèvrefeuille reminds us that it’s pretty much winter in the Northern hemisphere and we have already had our first hoarfrost, […]
Listening
Last night I didn’t gaze at lights in the November sky. Long beyond midnight, even longer into early morn, lingering solitary, lids drooped as I listened to legendary sisters’ songs. Leaning against the willow, lulled by silver harmony, lovely cosmic chords became laments for a lost sister, lugubrious Pleiades lilting quietly to me. Kim M. […]
Just Playing
Before the second lockdown, I spent some Tuesday mornings walking with a group in our local woodlands, fields and lanes. Every week, the group leader planned routes for us to explore. I was delighted to discover new places to enjoy the landscape. On one of our walks, we stood at the top of a rise […]
Thankful
I am thankful for the small thingsthe early morning cup of teaheat blowing under my kneesin the relentless chill of the studythe blanket wrapped around mesunset orange, soft and comfya view of the garden and all I can seedried honeysuckle vines on a breezea cheeky pheasant pecking berriesa squirrel scurrying up the apple treedeer eating […]
Canned
I haven’t seen a Campbell’s can for decades, with its boring, old-fashioned label. When I think of all those tomatoes that were crammed inside, I wonder if they‘re out of date, whether they stink, if there’s mould on top, if they have dried out, shrunk, drained of bloody red to anaemic pink spotted with bits […]
Last Glow of the Dying Season
solitary quinceamong semi-bare branchestoo few leaves to hidethe only source of sunshinefloodlights the dying season Kim M. Russell, 19th November 2020 My response to dVerse Poets Pub Meeting the Bar: Jisei (Japanese Death Poems) Frank is our host today for Meeting the Bar, inviting us to revisit the Jisei (Japanese […]
Colours of Life
a break in grey cloudhoney light on fallen leavesburnished russet hues Kim M. Russell, 19th November 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1839 colours of life Chèvrefeuille is back with a prompt on the theme of ‘colours of life’ which, he says, not only has to do with autumn, but also with life itself.
Covid Celebration
hesitation before the grip of winter’s chillalmost all the leaves are goneexposing branches to a cloudless skyand pale light of a more distant sun isolation I watch it from the windowcold glass between me and the worlda video call heralds the promiseof a smiling face celebration a Sunday birthday this yearfour decades of being my […]
writing in north norfolk 