Tall Dandelions

Tall dandelions wave 

from the verge of a hill

their dancing yellow heads

dotting the thick green.

Profuse, unweeded, they release

into the open window of the car

the smell of dandelions en masse

suddenly returned from childhood.

X-Ray Vision

Photos of sunsets

and reflected trees

vie with city views

on the blaring TV

for the attention 

of radiology patients

who wait for their scans

with downcast eyes

failing to observe

these images.

Rain walk

Today the late afternoon walkers —

risk takers — stride purposefully home.

‘I hope we beat the rain,” I call

to a young woman making good time

on the other side of the road.

‘I don’t mind rain,’ she calls back,

‘But if there’s hail ….’ Yesterday,

when I was out in my car, there was hail.

Small spots, but I wouldn’t like them

stinging my unprotected body. However

we grin at each other as we move on,

aware that already the first light drops of rain 

are hitting us both with their cold barbs.