Work

Poem 341 – A Happy Exchange

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This face is weary but its smile
Expresses it all having travelled miles.
To finally arrive and leave behind,
The travails of demanding times,
Exchanged for days of expectation,
Of sunny days and relaxation,
Lightens the step and lifts the soul
Brings life and joy and hope all told.

Day one of our holiday in Portugal. The 4.15am alarm call was not appealing, but was totally and utterly worth it.
(02.11.24)

© Ben Quant 2024

Poem 337 – Hopefully-Not-A-Talking Heads Haiku

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We’re on the road to…
Somewhere, but we don’t quite know
Exactly where yet!

The second day of our church movement’s annual conference is done, and so am I – I help run it and only ever make it through with a combination of adrenaline, caffine and prayer! We’re on a journey over the three days of thinking about where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we might be heading next.
(29.10.24)

© Ben Quant 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQiOA7euaYA
Photo by rafa espada on Unsplash

Poem 336 – Completed

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The exhalation as shoulders relax,
Quiet satisfaction from being spent.

A sense of peace from a task discharged
Being completed when at last the job’s done.

Embracing the tiredness when you finally stop,
And finding sleep when the dark night comes.

If you’ve been following my poems, you’ll be aware that I’ve done a few on the Countess of Huntingdon recently. I’ve been reading up on her, in order to give a talk on her legacy for our ‘denomination’. Today was the day, and it went well. It’s good to have it done.
(28.10.24)

© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Anna Pascale on Unsplash

Poem 332 – Dynamo Hands

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Today I’ve been
trying to power
through my work,
typing for hours.

The outcome? Just under
2,000 strides, and
two square eyes,
and too many slides.

No power walk
but I wonder if
I could plug my fingers
into the grid!

It’s a big week workwise for me next week, as I’m giving a talk at our church movement’s conference, as well as other content. This means it’s heads down right now to get everything done.
(24.10.24)

© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash

Poem 324 – Toddlers

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Putting out the tables,
hauling down the toys,
vacuuming the carpet.

Laying out a perfect
spread of fun before we
open up the doors.

Dodge incoming toddlers
running fast, heads down,
parents pulled in tow.

Others stand bewildered,
wondering why they’re here,
and who these strangers are.

Seek to find a way to
bring these lives together
and maybe learn to share.

Strive to turn a cry
into a smile and laugh,
and that’s just with the parents!

After clearing tables,
gather for refreshments,
rewind to the beginning.

Wednesday morning is Toddlers morning, when I get paid to work! Exhausting but wonderful.
(16.10.24)

© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Tanaphong Toochinda on Unsplash

Poem 322 – My Diary

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Each day more was added,
excited, bubbly, gushing,
full of life and joy.
A drip,
a drop,
a splash,
until the water teetered
and flowed onto the floor.
There, creating puddles,
it demanded that
a health and safety sign
should be erected declaring,
‘Slippery when Wet’.

I’ve just walked back in the rain from a school assembly. It was great fun, in fact I had a whale of a time, however, my diary could have done without it – there are just too many competing good things going on right now.
(14.10.24)

© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Liu JiaWei on Unsplash