Monday’s mist has crept into my brain’s
recesses, sneaked into the sulci and found
itself at home within these thoughtful folds.
Now settled in, it’s sapped my synapses,
ground down the grey cells, dulled imagination,
leaving me with just a sudden sneeze!!!!
I seem to have developed a cold…
(28.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
Amidst life’s chaos, finding the familiar
can give an anchor that may brace us from
the ravages of randomness. These rage
against us and chip away our certainty
and sense of self. But home asserts itself,
gently assuring us of place and purpose.
Been home with Dad for a few days.
(27.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Rowan Heuvel on Unsplash
The sky’s translucent. A milky haze of mist
gives substance to the air, a thin and sloppy
semolina. It cloaks us and the land
beneath our feet. I shiver bitterly.
Beside this winter garb, the earth is bare,
with not a bloom or waking bud in sight.
Standing mutely watching us go past,
the sheep appear resigned, their fleeces stained.
Above, a glider sails the milky sea.
It moves in circles, like a silent bird
of prey, only it never swoops. Below,
I turn my collar up and press on home.
Went for a walk around my parents’ house today. Lovely, but it’s taken much of the rest of the day to warm up again!
(26.01.26)
It was only the size of a postage stamp,
a pixelated blur that came and went
with sound that didn’t match the picture,
but it was a kind of magic back then.
Transported to your Surrey garden,
six-hundred thousand strangers streamed
down phone lines crossing continents
into this tiny buffering barn.
We held our breath and squeezed into
that distant doorway, willed the image
to appear until its spluttering
sounds and colours burst to life.
In awe we cheered distorted sounds,
squinting to make you out across
the many miles that lay between us,
clapping, we hoped, in unison.
Could we be hyperlinked? Connected
through our screens? It seemed surreal.
But now HD, the wonder’s leeched
become mundane and yesterday.
I’ve been working on a painfully slow internet connection today. This reminded me of watching Roger Taylor’s record-breaking concert ‘Live at the Cyberbarn’ on dial up internet. How quickly things have changed!
(See: https://www.rogertaylor.info/facts-and-trivia/accolades/the-guinness-book-of-records/)
(25.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Turned off the M4
Promptly the rain starts to fall
No surprises there!
Visiting our daughter.
(24.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Sebastiano Piazzi on Unsplash
The winding week is done, its work is over
The veiling night draws near, now dim the light
Its time to take account of all its triumphs
And put its problems prayerfully aside
Once ready, rest awhile and rediscover
That peaceful place that every person needs
Recall your core, your heart, your cornerstone
And gladly let the God of grace within
It’s Friday night!
(23.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
The knights are gathered
With swords unsheathed
A castle divided
Round table split
Plans have been hatched
The end comes soon
Destruction draws near
Its seeds have been sown
The Traitor and the Faithful
Are sat in their seats
Mordred and Arthur
But which is which…
Watching the penultimate episode of Traitors with no idea how it’s going to open out…
(22.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash
The team sheet’s on the radio,
It’s time to start, the whistle blows,
As one the crowd stand up to roar,
The ball is kicked and off they go!
Like eager dogs fly from the doors,
Their fleeting feet pounding the floor,
To chase the mark, a spinning ball,
And swift to shoot, a goal to score.
It’s time for heroes to stand tall,
And answer adultion’s call,
In shooting straight the winning shot,
And with their nimble feet enthrall.
A goal tonight, the perfect plot.
The winner’s prize? Take home the lot.
So go on boys, give it all you’ve got!
So go on boys, give it all you’ve got!
I had no idea what to write tonight, so took another look at different poetry forms, and opted to try an interlocking rubaiyat. Liverpool were playing in Europe at the same time, so the two inevitably came together.
(21.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Daniel Norin on Unsplash
A delicate beauty,
This life is prone and fragile.
Like sheets of golden leaf it’s
Capable of invoking awe
Before crumbling under
The weight of our passing breath.
Caring for my parents has reminded me of the preciousness and fragility of life.
(20.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash
One day long ago, (Afrikaans)
Or so the story starts,
When tigers used to smoke, (Korean)
And serpents lies impart, (Gen. 3)
There was and there was not, (Arabic)
A river of mighty torrents,
Beyond seven mountains,
And beyond seven forests, (Polish)
In that corner of the world,
Where everybody had a nose, (Catalan)
In a Galaxy far away,
A long, long time ago, (Star Wars)
Where the water was being strewn
And the sand was being poured, (Slovak)
A knight once won his spurs (song by Jan Struther)
And stories were adored.
Watching a round on Countdown last night, my attention was caught by phrases other countries use for ‘once upon a time’.
(19.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Andreas Weilguny on Unsplash
Ode for the Day 