I’ve often wondered about Aaron’s beard…
Was it full throttle ZZ Top
or something much more closely cropped?
A shaggy mop where birds could nest,
or neat coiffure for Sunday best?
Poirot curls or Viking plaits?
Something at home with a tricorn hat?
But this i know no matter how weird,
It’s a mass of hairs so closely adhered,
That although they’re different they appear,
To be a single glorious beard!
Enjoyed our Churches Together service tonight.
(28.09.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Straight-jacketted by bed-linen,
I refuse to panic or submit,
seeking to fight the sheets into
submission. Grappling with corners,
I twist and thrash and try to solve
this case of cotton origami.
At first it all seems bleak, the bedding
begins to win but just as all
looks lost ‘That’s Life’ emerges from
the folds of distant memory.
Shaking out the cobwebs, one flick
is all it takes to turn defeat
into a perfectly aligned
duvet – and Rantzen wins again.
Having almost finished decorating the spare room, it was time to put the bedding on again… Decades on, I still remember Esther Rantzen’s advice regarding how to put these new fangled duvet covers on.
(25.09.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by wd toro 🇲🇨 on Unsplash
Your perfect tick
Is most exquis-
itive, it simply
can’t be matched.
The downstroke’s
full of fizz
caused by the way
it was dispatched.
You really should
go into business
with such flare,
a classy act!
Your stylish writing
is a kiss
upon the page
it’s no mere scratch.
I’m really glad
you came, we’d miss
you otherwise,
but most of all
we’d miss your tick
your most exquis-
ite tick, word to
the wise. That Louis
is your man
your master scribe.
There’s none can match
his passion and
the way that he
can etch a tick
his skill in ex-
ecuting it’s
unique and
not too be
despised. Louis,
you are the master
of your trade.
You have the trick
of writing ticks,
so let the world
take note of this
that no one else
comes close to your
unrivalled skill.
Quite simply put
you are the tick
within our box.
You have our vote,
so be the best,
be unabashed,
you are unmatched,
the calligraphic
trophy winner.
You are the one,
the only one,
so go and flick
be free and tick
outrageously
and never cross.
An ode to a volunteer at foodbank who arrived after the rush today when all that was left was to tick a sheet. Best read out loud and fast.
(16.09.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Image by juicy_fish on Magnific
I find
I find myself
I find myself feeding
I find myself feeding frogs
I find myself feeding frogs with my fingers
And I fear they fink my fingers are the food!
They’re not the brightest of creatures…
(14.09.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Unless I have miscounted,
(As I have before),
Today I reach one thousand
Poems, no less no more.
Occasionally profound,
And sometimes simply silly,
Some good whilst others flounder,
Some rhyme whilst others refuse to.
I really ought to write one of the profound or thoughtful ones tonight, but this is what came out tonight instead…
(11.09.36)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Cooper Hofmann on Unsplash
The calm before the storm.
I’m taking a deep breath,
Gathering my thoughts,
And feeding on my nerves,
Preparing to take the plunge,
The chance to turn has gone,
It’s time to build momentum
And take a running JUMP!
I made it to my assembly early this morning, and had a few minutes to scribble these few lines.
(10.09.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Richard King on Unsplash
It all began with a lack of clarity.
You see, I hastily wrote without thinking it out,
No doubt I’ll be working out the implications
For days, no years to come. What have I done!
It started when I clicked copy then paste,
No time to waste, but in my haste I didn’t
Think to read it with the eyes of others.
Oh bother, there is no button labelled ‘Undo’.
You see, someone had scrawled ‘I’m leaving you,
It’s true, I’m off to Kent and so I’ll say,
Goodbye before I go. Please pray for me.’
I fear that quickly one and one made three.
Soon floods of farewell cards began to drop
A crop of well-wishers knocking at the door
With gifts and tears (perhaps some others cheered…)
I can’t deny that I was deeply touched.
And then a leaving party was announced,
And now I fear I can’t back out and soon
The room will be filled with piles of boxes as
Someone has kindly gone and booked a van!
You may be wondering who was it that wrote
That note? I must be blunt it wasn’t me,
But frustratingly no one’s yet come clean and undone
what I’ve done with my transcription blunder!
A true story ( well, but really but could have been…)
(06.09.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
One word at a time
A poem for every day
A habit is formed
Keeping the streak alive
(26.08.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
I will not be defeated
By a lack of meter,
Or abandon rhyme
For a lack of time,
And so this offering,
Although a little thin,
To keep the juices flowing
As now I must be going
That’s all folks…
(21.08.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
It’s hot.
So hot that I’ve started to melt.
I find myself dreaming of
a long refreshing drink,
hallucinating visions
of a pint; can you see it?
And so, upon returning
home, I find I am
inevitably pouring myself…
…onto the sofa and leaking
absolutely everywhere.
It’s hot, so very, very
hot.
It’s been a tad warm in the foodbank warehouse this week…
(14.08.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash
