Work

Poem 886 – Selina

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I see her familiar face across the room.
Head resting on her hand she is distracted,
her mind on matters out of sight to me.
The casual nature of her arm appears
a little forced, her back is straight, her face
is stern, it’s almost as if she has to brace
herself to pause; I want to speak and make
her stop and slow, to cease her constant churn
and yet, although I’ve known her for so long,
she knows me not at all and never will.

Inspired by a portrait of Selina, the Countess of Huntingdon, who founded the movement of churches I am part of.
(19.05.26)

© Ben Quant 2026

Poem 878 – The Endless Mountain

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Yesterday’s freezer has become
Today’s allocation of time,
No matter how much of it there is
There’s never enough to climb
Up to the summit, crest the wave,
To clear the endless email list,
To finish every job and task
Required to win the day, what bliss!

It’s been a busy day at the start of a busy week (I’m not complaining, in truth I like it this way!)
(11.05.26)

© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Kerensa Pickett on Unsplash

Poem 861 – One Week With Foodbank

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Shunted many parcels
Stared at folk on Zoom
Sought new volunteers
Pushed tables round the room

Paid the vehicle tax
Practised pastoral care
Threw away the trash
Put out requests for prayer

Made a new trustee and
Welcomed first time guests
Tussled with I.T. and
Pondered what was best

Much of my time at the moment is caught up with foodbank as we go through period of transition.
(24.04.26)

© Ben Quant 2026

Poem 833 – In Contrast

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Apprentices flogging rubbish
Squeezing out every penny
Hype and exaggeration

Evening celebrations
Thanking foodbank leaders
For humbly serving for free

Watching TV after saying thank you to our two magnificent foodbank leaders who have given everything for fifteen years. What a contrast.
(27.03.26)

© Ben Quant 2026

Poem 790 – En Route

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Gridlocked motorways
Stormy weather past Stonehenge
Winding country lanes

Praying the roads are clear
Dodging pot holes and branches
Don’t make me reverse!

Battery running low
Hoping that the charger works…
Big sighs of relief!

Helping lead a retreat for the Sierra Leone Mission today meant a long and early motorway drive to just beyond Exeter.
(12.02.26)

© Ben Quant 2026

Poem 735 – Abracadabra?

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A card trick?
In front of a school of children?
What could possibly go wrong?
In fact it turns out quite a lot…

They say that if at first you don’t
succeed, that you should try, try, try
again? But after that? Press on?

Eventually it worked, I think,
a prize for my resilience but
I think they may have noticed…

And so I waved my magic wand
and wished myself away. Alas,
I failed to manage that as well!

Every year I do the school Christingle service on the last day of term. It has become a tradition that I do a Christmas magic trick. Usually it works…
(19.12.25)

© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Clifford Photography on Unsplash

Poem 733 – Collective Nouns for a Toddlers’ Party

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Take:
A tumult of toddlers
A cacophony of carers
A muddle of mothers,
Disappearance of dads
A greatness of grandparents
A legend of leaders*
A twinkle of stars
And a riot of rhymes.
Mix to taste.
A collective Toddler Christmas party

*Apart from the poet!

It was the glorious madness of our toddler group Christmas party today. Great fun, as always.
(17.12.25)

© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by leoni fleming on Unsplash