A roll of the dice
A toss of the coin
A moment of choice
A junction to join
A story to forge
‘Twixt heaven and hell
The bones are airborne
An outcome to tell
Just out of a wonderful evening of role-playing, a perfect blend of storytelling chance which surprised and delighted.
(06.05.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Guillermo Velarde on Unsplash
I’m glad it did not rain on their parade,
and these old men and women could keep dry,
but somehow it seemed appropriate that the scenes
turned black and white under the gloomy clouds.
Although flags were flying and plastic hats
were worn adorned in red, white and blue,
this isn’t a day for celebration, rather
a day for quiet sombre recollection.
‘We must never forget’, a veteran said,
but as he did, the breaking news told us
of growing conscription in the Middle East
ahead of expanded operations in Gaza…
In the Ukraine the drones still buzz about,
Sudan’s still torn to bits by civil war,
and tariff tit-for-tats are lobbed like bombs.
I fear this is no time for flapping flags.
Maybe, it’s time to swap out national pride
for seeking peace. A holy man once said,
‘Love your enemies.’ If only we had
the imagination that this task requires.
Today marks the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.
(05.05.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Mark Leishman on Unsplash
An evening out
With my best friend
A Sunday roast
With idle chat
A glass of red
Obligatory pud
Home for coffee
In time for bed
Our son’s had friends around for dinner, a perfect excuse to make ourselves scarce and to enjoy our own.
(04.05.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Roppo Baker on Unsplash
Sharply formed and
Immaculately cut,
In neat straight lines
Of grass and roses.
Fragrant scents and
Pastiche pieces,
White marble figures
By formal arches.
Here nature’s tamed,
Close manicured,
Ghosts promenade,
As stone lions roar.
We spent today’s sunny morning strolling around the grounds of Wrest Park.
(03.05.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Nigel Cox CC-BY SA 2.0
He sits, intently fixing me
with ancient eyes that see and know.
They hold me not directly but
obliquely. Nevertheless, they have
the measure of me, weighing me up,
appraising character and work.
I wonder what he sees in there.
I also gaze into his soul
and find within familiar landscape,
a long lost brother clad in orange.
One of the highlights of our visit to Port Lympne Safari Park was the orangutans. Watching and being watched by someone so close to being a human was highly moving.
(02.05.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
I hear the breathing of this house,
it’s silent yet it’s full of noise.
The creaking of its ribs as lungs
flex in and out. A clock, its pulse,
as blood pumps through its corridors.
The freezer’s drone denotes its thought.
The walls it wraps around me, an
embrace, to hold me tight and safe.
Later, I’ll hear creaking springs,
as it relaxes next to me
and dreams.
I realised late this morning, that I’d been home in silence since first thing, except it wasn’t silent, and I wasn’t truly alone.
(01.05.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
The husk rests dry and dead
within the dark cold ground,
and sleeps the winter through
until the warm spring’s tug.
The right conditions call
it forth; a conversation,
a word, a revelation,
that stirs and wakes potential.
A downward delving for
the deepest nutrient
and reaching for the light,
the outshoots of new growth.
And from Good Friday’s husk
comes Easter’s child, who reaches
up with outstretched hands
and tottering first steps.
A conversation earlier today reminded me of my first steps to faith.
(30.04.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Dibakar Roy on Unsplash
Last night I slept with lions.
The final sound I heard?
That deep hoarse throaty roar
that said this place is mine
and you are only guests
as long as I permit it.
Sleep well but don’t forget…
We stayed in a glamping pod at Port Lympne Zoo last night as part of a two day trip to there and Howletts. Absolutely fantastic.
(29.04.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Beware of gorillas throwing sticks
Take care of toucans tossing stones
Be cautious capybaras playing tricks
And flippin’ flamingos flinging bones
Look out the lemurs are lobbing logs
The anteater’s taking aim at you
Mind out for missiles fired by dogs
It’s all gone ballistic at the zoo!
Visited Port Lympne Zoo today and stumbled across this sign. A poem had to follow.
(28.04.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Ode for the Day 
