Increasing tension,
As the deadline approaches,
Demands attention.
Talks and events are coming thick and fast!
(15.04.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
Work
Poem 480 – Making Space
Today, I’m making space for conversation
Pushing back the barriers to speech
Setting out the chairs around the table
Ensuring everybody has a place
Putting on the kettle, making tea
Meeting everybody with a smile
Whiling away the hours with open questions
Offering our guests the gift of time
I’ve been reflecting on the impact of our foodbank layout on our visitors, and have decided that it’s time to ring the changes.
(09.04.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Aditya Kulkarni on Unsplash
Poem 475 – Friday
At the end of the walk
look back at the route,
Retrace your paths
and steps, recall
the twists and turns,
the detours taken.
Remember the views,
and picture the scenes
that stopped your breath
and brought you life.
Recount steep paths,
successfully navigated;
gain strength for those
ongoing climbs.
Rest tired limbs;
the satisfying ache
of journey’s end –
at least for now.
Give thanks for those
who’ve walked with you,
and those you have
accompanied.
Tomorrow will bring more hours and challenges, but for now it’s Friday evening, and time to stop, take stop, and give thanks.
(04.04.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Poem 473 – Two Heads
An honest conversation,
A sharing of opinions,
Through letting our guards down,
And trusting one another.
Revealing ignorance,
And asking searching questions,
Opening to the other,
Two heads better than one.
I’ve had a day of activities and meetings today. A common thread has been a series of cracking conversations where we’ve genuinely learnt from each other.
(02.04.25)
Poem 461 – Done
Friday evening’s here.
I’ve written, talked and shunted
all day long. I’m done.
A quick poem at the end of a busy day.
(21.03.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Doğukan Şahin on Unsplash
Poem 438 – With Brother Lawrence
Poem 433 – Two Days
Driving, packing, moving and assembling,
Scrubbing, scraping, sweeping, lifting, mending,
Two days non-stop moving until now,
And I’m never going to move my bones again.
That’s it, the job’s more or less done. And so am I.
(21.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Poem 432 – An Ode To White Van Man
Two men and a van
Bish, bash, bosh, hurrah, job done!
Put the kettle on!
Today’s removal men for our daughter were fantastic! If only the flat pack furniture was as straightforward…
(20.02.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
Poem 398 – Call Centre Blues
Your call is important to us
So we’re placing you in a queue
And playing some lovely music
For you to listen to
Your call is important to us
So we’re recording every word
We’ll listen back to it often
To learn from what we’ve heard
Your call is important to us
Along with the other ninety-nine
We’re looking forward to speaking to you
When we finally have the time
Your call is important to us
We’ll hang onto every jot
We’re sorry to leave you waiting
But abruptly this call must
I’ve had the joy of feeling with a few call centres recently. Occasionally one comes along that is great (thank you Indra), but often it’s a nightmare.
(17.01.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by LumenSoft Technologies on Unsplash
Poem 392 – Boardroom Betrayal
Today, all day,
I sat in a meeting
And found myself
Wondering
Wouldn’t it
be more fun
If someone was
A traitor…
From time to time
We’d break into
Subcommittees
And scheme
And then we’d draw
Our pens and cast
A suspect out
Before
The constitution
Affords the traitor
A chance to veto
Someone’s voice.
After a six hour meeting, it was good to come home and catch up with Traitors, a complete contrast!
(11.01.25)
Ode for the Day 