The perfect vision
Arching delight
Curving crisply
Casting the light
Reaching over
Reeds and blue water
Alas this bridge
Is an imposter
To celebrate half term, we took some time today to visit Kenwood House and grounds. Over the lake reaches this beautiful bridge which can be seen from the house. Close inspection, however, reveals it is a sham – it is a two dimensional prop!
(17.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
The simple joy
Of an evening spent
With two old friends
Two friends whose lives
Have intertwined
And accompanied ours
Two friends who shared
Our wedding day
(But sadly not with us)
Two friends whose children
Have become
The friends of ours
Two friends who’ve walked
Our joys and trials
As we’ve walked theirs
Two friends with whom
We can relax
And simply be
Seemed an obvious follow-up to the last couple of days’ poems. That’s not us in the photo though, surprisingly I’ve virtually no photos of just the four (or eight) of us. Thanks J&B!
(16.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash
Eleven thousand,
One hundred and thirty seven,
Spent married to you.
Who’s counting? I am.
Each matters, every one a
Choice made together.
From the heady start,
Somersaulting down the aisle,
When Ben married ‘Ken’.
The joy of shared walks,
Exploring each other’s hands,
And ways of thinking.
To expanding love,
The miracle of childbirth,
And growing as one.
Enduring Ofsted,
Learning how you like your tea,
Shared viva anger.
Funding the future,
Investing all my eggs in
One basket with you.
Every day matters,
From mundane daily chores to
Ecstatic highlights.
Eleven thousand,
One hundred and thirty seven,
Spent in loving you.
Ok, so yesterday’s hastily scrawled haiku didn’t convey the feeling behind it (the time was better spent doing that in person than absorbed on the mobile writing!) Hopefully this conveys some of that. And yes, our vicar did try and marry Ben and Ken, his embarrassment a cause for great delight for the rest of us!
(15.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Eleven thousand,
One hundred and thirty six,
Spent married to you.
A haiku for Valentine’s Day.
(14.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Eric Rothermel on Unsplash
A waltz can be stopped
when one partner sits down,
but for a dance to be danced
both partners are needed.
A war can be caused
by the actions of one,
but for peace to be peace
both parties are needed.
After the news of Trump’s calling Putin about the end of the war in Ukraine, I’m hoping his approach is more than mere appeasement.
(13.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Marko Zirdum
Stepping outside, the valley dampens sound.
Beyond the cry of geese the air is still
and heavy on the lake, subdued, breath held.
The trees are layered green with moss and fern.
A deer stalks by. I sense the world is his
not mine, we are the interlopers here.
And in this distant moment the earth rewinds
in recollection of its ancient past, remembering
Eden before we walked upon its lawns.
Talking a break within a busy church conference today, we took a walk in Ashburnham’s grounds and stepped briefly into another world.
(12.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
‘The Norman horde must be holding us up ahead,’
I laughed out loud, as we languished in the lane.
And so imagine my surprise when, making
it around the roundabout, we ran into
a fearsome figure fighting on a horse!
Before him fought on foot a Saxon armed
with axe and anger, armour dulled by blows
so skillfully cut by William’s swiping sword.
Thus trapped, the tortured troops of Harold stand,
eternally caught in conflict with the Conqueror.
Driving to a conference today, we were held up in the Sussex town of Battle…
(11.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Is it a symptom of age,
That watching TV these days,
I spend all my time, in committing the crime
Of debating just what else they’ve been in
Watching House MD tonight, I’m being taunted by a gallery of faces I’ve seen in something else before.
(10.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Here’s to the underdog,
For taking your chance,
For standing up straight,
And repelling the advance.
For keeping your heads,
Despite losing your teeth,
Miraculous saves,
As the fans start to scream.
Here’s to the underdog,
On overcoming the trial,
And ending on top,
The great Plymouth Argyle!
As a Liverpool fan, it pains me to say it, but hats off to Plymouth today – especially their two new defenders and goalkeeper who were brilliant. I loved the celebrations at every tackle made, it said a lot about the spirit that the new manager has brought to them.
(09.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Daniel Norin on Unsplash
The joy of getting
All the way
And discovering that
We can get back!
A new electric car has eliminated our range anxiety
(08.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Ode for the Day 