jasmine breeze

the scent....

...of Genoa

Ligurian sea

ebb and flow

the pulse of Genoa

family funeral

on the church floor

a Cheey Wotsit

Ampleforth Abbey

a frosty morning

the monks glide into Mass

 a cluster of candles

flickering

Chinese dancers

 elderly parishioner

shuffling towards

her mortal coil

 the smell of alcohol

on the priest's breath

Holy Communion

 big fat Buddha

rubbung his tummy

for luck

waves of cicada sound

wash over my morning run

dreaming of home

formation flying

a squadron of swans

glides to a halt

Accepted Blithe Spirit (2025) 35:4 page 7

early spring morning

a snail

moving……….house

from four slices

to two

downsizing our toaster

empty recycling bin

the thump

of the first wine bottle

a lone pheasant

in a frosty field

the gun dogs’ yelp

half a stone dyke

covered in frost

the north face

on the pavement

a beggar outside Tesco 

avoiding eye contact

a cold quiet church

all eyes on the vestry door

midweek Mass

desert moon

across the sand

a mullah’s cry

Published (2025) Blithe Spirit Volume 35 Number 2 page24

sibilant whispers

the sea swells

into stormy waters

windy autumn evening

pitch dark

geese migrate overhead