Where were you ...

where were you stuck

in the time of COVID –

together? apart?

My Book of Days

The small daily poems I've set myself to write this year are  gradually being removed to a new blog (click to find): My Book of Days.

Small stones are meant to be outward-looking, whereas my daily poems have become more and more self-reflective, so I decided they don't belong here but need a blog of their own. 

Week 4 of NaHaiWriMo 2023

22. EVENING

first open the doors

letting the cool air inside —

then shut out the dark

23. VESPERS

Vespers, no —

I pray informally

any old time.

24. BEDTIME

elderly cat

inspects to make sure

I’m tucked in safe

25. ELEVENTH HOUR

my 83 years

feel lovely, but I wonder —

should I write faster?

26. MIDNIGHT SNACK

just one bite

of dark chocolate

before bed

*

if I can’t sleep

toasted raisin bread

and hot cocoa

27.  DEAD OF NIGHT / WITCHING HOUR / 

WEE SMALL HOURS.

second wind

I stay up ’til three

in secret

I like being

the only one awake

in the quiet 

28. THE LAST HOUR

friends tell me

that unconvincing lie:

plenty of time

*

the last hour but

so many books still to read –

and to write

Week 3 of NaHaiWriMo 2023

15. HAPPY HOUR

alone now

I raise a glass to you

happily

16. DINNER/SUPPER

‘Come to supper!’ —

puzzling ‘til we found

she meant dinner

(dinner: evening meal

supper: the snack before bed —

but in which country?)

17. GOLDEN HOUR / MAGIC HOUR

that long moment

when light intensifies —

just before dark

18.SUNSET

sunset —

the long night

stretches 

19. BLUE HOUR

the blue hour

the closing door 

the silence

20. TWILIGHT

interface

between light and dark —

space for magic

21. DUSK

gradual dusk —

the hills across the way

begin to dim

Week 2 of NaHaiWriMo 2023

8: ELEVENSES

time to stop

for a hard-earned cuppa —

elevenses

9: NOON:

midday pause —

a breath before afternoon’s

flattening heat

10: LUNCH

ladies who lunch –

I joined them after

widowhood

11: MIDDAY

walking away

casting no shadow —

disappearing

12: NAPTIME

my cat and me —

two old girls napping

together

13: TEATIME

hot scones, jam and cream —

not in sub-tropic summer

thanks very much!

14. AFTERNOON

afternoon rain

a hint of thunder —

don’t go out!

Week 1 of NaHaiWriMo 2023

OMG just realised it’s February — NaHaiWriMo month, which I usually participate in — and I could have been doing all my micropoems this month to those haiku prompts. OK, I’ll jump right in and catch up with what I’ve missed. (Confession: some are senryu.)

1: DAYBREAK

cooling air

after the long hot night —

brief rest

2: DAWN BIRDSONG

one magpie

sings in the dawn

briefly

3: CROWING ROOSTER

shrill call

of the rooster —

still dark

4: SUNRISE

sunrise —

my cat landing on the bed

informs me

*

sunrise —

I open one eye

and roll over

5: BREAKFAST

first of all

the morning coffee —

long and black

6: MORNING

pounding rain

suddenly interrupts

this hot morning

7: BRUNCH

out for brunch

before the day warms up —

old friends chat

January micro 2023: 8

no parking space — 

have the angels

forsaken me 

or shall I never know

what mishap they prevent?

*

joining my afternoon rest

she lies beside my head

purring loudly –

the supervisor, the mother,

leaving only after I’m settled

January micro 2023: 7

my Tarot client

speaks of her widowhood

and I too weep

*

ten years 

since he died —

by now

memories are both 

grief and joy

January Micro 2023: 6

all the things

visitors don’t remark —

offerings on the sill

a small ritual every morning

the upturned broom by the door … 

*

finishing the library books

a three-day feast

of (mostly) very good poetry —

and now my mind 

is blank, my pen still

*

He’d love to stop work.

‘Change that conversation,’

I long to say —

as his back pain

gradually gets worse.

January micro 2023:5

When I stroke behind her ears

as she settles to sleep,

I love even more than her purr

the ecstatic curl and flex

of one little paw.

*

Sunday breakfast treat —

café style raisin toast

two fat slices

*

I draw Queen of Swords 

the independent woman 

also the widow –

happy to think of Andrew

and what a good life we made

January micro 2023:4

 

When I have a new Tarot, I pull a card a day as a way to learn — though all Tarot is Tarot — the particular character of this one. Recently I got the Crow deck by MJ Cullinane. I love crows, and I liked the artwork: neither too realistic nor too fancy. Today I pull the 8 of Cups: a longing for something beyond the material wealth I have. (I don’t have lots of money, but I have enough of everything else for my needs, and even some emotionally sustaining non-essentials — and that is wealth to me.)

But to take a more spiritual path — what can that mean? I have followed one all my life. At the age of 83, is this a message that death is beckoning? I don’t think I’m afraid to die, but I don’t feel ready yet. And despite the inevitable ageing and slowing, I don’t think my body is at that point either. But perhaps it’s a gradual journey. (Perhaps I need to begin some preparation.)

even with wings

ascending a mountain

must take time?

*

alone except for my cat

I put on the big blue earrings

(deep blue and white, like pottery)

which Angela gave me one birthday

– dressing up for myself

*

night owl texting –

certain friends know

who else roams the dark

January micro 2023: 3

summer interrupted

rain all night

today all drizzle –

even my garden statue

looks miserable

*

My card for today

is Queen of Cups.

Does it signify me

(water sign woman)

or the damp day outside?

*

The library reminds me

those books are coming due. 

OK – this afternoon

turns into a banquet:

gorging poetry.

*

The small cat dreams 

through the afternoon,

making tiny throat sounds

as if calling, or perhaps 

greeting someone (me?)