222

Somewhere a yowling

Padded steps; a bell jingles.

Feeding time again?

28.5.17

221

Her quiet purring

A delight; a reward for

Our close attention

28.5.17

220

Top of the staircase

looking down; we mere humans

make our obeisance

28.5.17

219

Retreats to darkness

Turns back to face me, blinking

Her reflective eyes

28.5.17

218

Patient, shadow soft

Beautiful oblivion

Rubs against my hand

28.5.17

“oblivion” due to my being mistaken about her name, but I’ll keep it here because I think it still kind of works.

217

In darkened hallway,

Eyes glittering. Turns away;

A vanishing act

1.6.17

216

The rain subsiding

Whitened clouds, a glimpse of blue

Horizon brightens

27.5.17

215

A sudden downpour

Amidst threatening thunder

Street becomes a stream

27.5.17

214

Cloud fills the valley

Rain quickly intensifies

Hail raps the window

27.5.17

213

The hills are hidden

Thunder peals, continuous

Cat hides under car

27.5.17

212

The shimmering trees

Sweep against the sharpest blue

Train carries me on

27.5.17

211

Buzzard hovering

Flash of brown white feathers

The world twists beneath

27.5.17

210

A few thoughtless words.

An apology. Regret.

And then reflection;

Next time, consideration

And attempt to empathise.

4.5.17

First try at a tanka, 5-7-5-7-7 structure.

209

You sat for a while

Heavily burdened, it seemed

You rose, and moved on

30.4.17-3.5.17

208

Sat on the outside

Only half a room away

Feels like half a world

30.4.17-3.5.17

207

Sat at the centre

Curled, head in your hands, silent

Did you reach your goal?

30.4.17

206

I watched the walkers

Treading the labyrinth’s path

But feared to join them.

3.5.17

205

Mondrian windows

Pinks and browns, yellows, orange

Catch the setting sun.

30.4.17

204

Once brilliant gems

Are dulled now, their lustre lost

Set beside your eyes

30.4.17-3.5.17

203

Sudden April snow

Falls slowly, drifts, merges with

The cherry blossom.

30.4.17

202

Turning on one side

Pain a sheet pulled over me

Am I dreaming now?

2016

201

Sun stole across me.

Your arm lay warm on my chest,

Gently slid away

11.16

200

A ship run aground

Hull shattered against the rocks

Of foolish notions

2016

199

A stray emotion

Seeping out onto the page

Momentary lapse

2016-2017

198

Forgotten relic

Grey-green lichen for a skin

Moss grows in my eyes

2016

197

Stepping carefully

Across clay-clouded water’s

Tree-stump lily pads

2016

196

Flames fall from the trees

Flickering at the wind’s touch

Flowing round my feet

10.16

195

Jellyfish twisting,

Drawn by the current. Markings

on one side, “Tesco”.

3.2.17

194

Wanting to tell you...

A finger pressed to my lips,

“It is not required”

23.1.17