Umbrellas bloom bright,

Neon carrots, purple beans—

A rainbow in rain.

Rain drumbeats on tents,

Lively chatter, laughter bursts—

Market hums alive.

Soggy socks squelching,

Pickle jars cool, smooth as glass—

Textures weave a quilt.

Mint mingles with mud,

Popcorn popping, earthy steam—

A scent kaleidoscope....

2024

Blue walls are crumbling

How quickly the conjurors are melting away

2025

Budget papers leaked insiders

Not wholly true but close enough

2026

Half term Oranges

And other even more

cumbersome metaphors

2027

Blue walls are still dissolving

with toxic microplasticity

2028

Five years pass, sheep are grazing

in what seem mostly greener fields...

Mustang roars, wind sings,

Back roads map our wild hearts' flight—

Soundgarden blaring.

Hard times, thin wallets,

Love's fabric stretched, yet unfrayed—

Somehow made ends meet.

Storms brew, harsh words clash,

Warm and happy home turns cold.

Still, we chose to stay.

Sorry’s never said,

Broken heart full of regret.

Death swept you away.

New dawn, life renews,

Past love rests in heart's chamber—...

Year One:

Love blooms, hearts entwined,

Vows exchanged, forever bind,

Two souls, unified.

Year Two:

Tiny hands, so sweet,

New life brings joy, love complete,

Mom and Dad’s embrace.

Year Three:

Dark clouds gather near,

Husband strikes, igniting fear,

Shattered dreams, tears fall.

Year Four:

Courage found within,

Precious child she must defend.

Heart heavy, but brave.

Year Five:

Healing l...

Scared of my shadow

My full self wants to say hi

The closet stays locked

I’ve told my friends now

To them I am the same me

But I’m not, I’m more

Bloomed to my full self

I want my parents to know

But they won’t like it

My dad shrugged it off

My mom had a full meltdown

Her dream daughter’s gone

I thought I came out

But I have a girlfriend now

We never discuss...

We were still so young

When we met at “once upon”

Fresh out of grade one

We were only teens

When “you and I” became “we”

Together and free

We were barely grown

When a ring made you my own

And we bought our home

But then you fell ill

You did not get well with pills

Living lost appeal

You could hardly breathe

And the illness killed with ease

Why did you leave me…?...

Year 1:

It’s leukemia.

Chemo, arsenic, blood work.

This is my life now.

Year 2:

Doc said it. It’s gone!

I beat what should have killed me.

I can live my life.

Year 3:

It lingers inside.

Thoughts that it might reappear

Stronger and vengeful.

Year 4:

It didn’t come back.

It won’t. Because it knows me.

I will win again.

Year 5:

It’s Leukemia.

Acute, promyelocytic

but it didn’t win....

Fingers in fingers,

The doctors say I made it,

Married to the day.

Mother gone home now,

Crying into my lunchbox,

Failing to see friends.

Sixth form just in time,

Blossoming character born,

Old friends still with me.

Mother there but gone,

Sticking to the sofa bored,

Job won’t ever come.

About to be there,

My life has a routine now,

Like it should have had....

Death of a neighbor

Inheritance in book boxes

Spring is to knowing

Reads the Naked Sun

Reflections of Mules and Men

Summer warms ideas

Born venture of risk

Thoughts it brings the Fall of me

Struggles without ends

Winter storms grows seeds

Invention’s door, opens new life

Fifteen years then light

Seasons build new worlds

Wealth created from within

Wait tomorrow’s here...

I walk away through

streets we lived in, our lives splashed

on the quaint buildings.

Two years ago You

breathed in these red falling leaves.

Your shoes touched the ground.

Slam my fist down on

tabletops. What does it matter?

If you won't hear me.

I wrote a letter

that will remain unopened.

You're all I wanted.

I walk towards something.

I don't know what it is.

I can't keep fleeing....