I made it to the 6th
with not even a hint
of you know what…
But then, before Storm Darragh
hit, George Michael tapped
my careless shoulder.
It isn’t fair! Even
storms these days come
with warning.
I didn’t stand a chance…
(05.12.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Leo Wieling on Unsplash
There’s a certain symmetry
to walking the streets
delivering cards
These cards depict
the familiar scene
of Mary and Joseph
They’re kneeling beside
the only famous
manger known
Here the newborn
Christ-child lies,
come to walk in ours
I’ve been delivering the church’s Christmas cards around our local streets today, pondering the Christmas story as I did so (John 1:14).
(05.12.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Image by Andreas Böhm from Pixabay
Sometimes a poem arrives unbidden
You’re simply minding your own business
And in it barges unrequested.
On other occasions you start to write
And hunting with your pen you stumble
Over it’s fully formed treasures.
And sometimes you have to fight for it
Like Jacob, refusing to let go
Of it until you receive its blessing.
Inspiration is a slippery thing…
(04.12.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Jan Kahánek on Unsplash
I patched, I pumped, I pedalled.
Like Caesar’s veni , vidi , vici, today I triumphed.
(03.12.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by paolo candelo on Unsplash
I always fall into the trap
of thinking that this time it will be
an easy fix. It never is.
Two of them. One on each wheel. One after the other.
(02.12.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Vlad Smolyakov on Unsplash
A collective holding of breath,
the growing anticipation.
The draining down of sand
and dawning realisation.
A sense of something changing,
reversal of the tide.
The night is nearly over,
the day is close at hand.
It’s the first day of advent, the season when Christians look forward to the coming of Christ, both at Christmas and his return when he’ll make all things new.
(01.12.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Emmanuel Appiah on Unsplash
The hedge was out of control,
its branches lined their vicious
spikes beyond the fence,
like medieval pikemen
stood ready for the charge.
There was but one reply!
I grabbed my shears and set
about their ranks with wild
abandon, sending limbs
flying in every direction.
Resisting, they made their mark:
my blood was shed, but alas,
for them, victory was mine
as fast they fell, and soon
lay scattered on the ground.
But this was not the end.
In remembrance I gathered the fallen,
twisting them into a wreath
and hanging them on the door;
a holly crown for the Christ.
I spent this morning pruning our hedgerow, including the holly bush. I’ve often pondered making my own wreath, and so today I gave it a go, at least the holly framework. Tomorrow, perhaps, I’ll add a splash of colour to go with it.
(30.11.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Slouched on the sofa
Watching programmes on the box
With my other half
It’s the weekend. A night to relax.
(29.11.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Michael DeMoya on Unsplash
Crouch down, zoom in, and you’ll find a quantum forest,
a reaching canopy in miniature splendour that
rises in vast and alien complexity.
This leafy spread isn’t formed of trees but lichen,
the mystical two in one and one in two,
fungus and algae cryptically combined.
Hidden in plain sight, these ecological
marvels stretch out, decorating graves
and bridges; nature the original street artist.
I noticed recently that, while I wasn’t looking, lichen has spread out its swathes across the railway footbridge at the foot of our road. It’s a weird and mysterious organism, a combination of algae and fungus, but what is the nature of their relationship and are they / is it one organism or two?
(28.11.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
I should be writing a poem,
But it’s been a busy day,
Dealing with toddlers,
Shifting food,
Discussing the Bible,
Talking to church members,
Now the day’s done, and
Liverpool are beating Madrid,
So this will have to do.
Hopefully that’s game, set and match (to mix sports!)
(27.11.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Jannes Glas on Unsplash
Ode for the Day 