Frankie Boyle is on our bus
Berating latecomers for holding us up.
He declares he’d have said no
if it wasn’t for their children.
I believe him. Relenting he moans
under his breath. Loudly.
A heckler winds him up.
He has a go at him too and then
is sent back to apologise.
He’s not having a good day
and you sense it isn’t over…
Our latecomers cannot whisper.
At four am they still haven’t mastered it.
I might become Frankie too.
My neck compresses every time I relax,
and although my legs go to sleep, I cannot.
The rain begins and the wipers break.
But just as all looks grey the Scottish
hills emerge to save the day
and all is good. Except for Frankie.
He has to find a replacement bus
for those going to Glasgow…
Overnight we travelled to Edinburgh on the Megabus. If I’m honest, I’m not quite with it yet today! I hope our conductor has a better day…
(12.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Poem 258 – Banksy’s Cat
Crowds gather
Traffic slows
Police pace
Tension grows
Excited chatter
Selfies shown
Meaning pondered
Headlines flow
Oblivious to it all
Our feline stretches
And wanders off
Yesterday we visited his latest in a series of animal themed street art pieces in London, this time Cricklewood
(11.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Poem 257 – Old Man Toad
We keep an old metal bin lid upturned
and full of water for the birds.
On a hot day in spring it’s hilarious.
The young sparrows flock,
flapping their wings at a furious pace.
Splashing each other like teenagers,
their laughter fills the lawn.
Today I went to top it up.
Tipping out the water, I found Old Man Toad
huddled underneath in a grump,
like a grouchy grandad sat by the pool,
complaining about the youth of today.
He glowered at me.
Carefully, I covered him back up
and left him to it.
(10.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Jaunathan Gagnon on Unsplash
Poem 256 – For Five Days of Scotland
For five days in Scotland my true love packed for me….
Five bat-ter-ries
Four khaki t-shirts
Three pairs of socks
Two walking boots
And a can of insect repellent
Almost all set for five days under canvas near Blairgowrie… (Batteries for the lantern!)
(09.08.24)
Poem 255 – 1,000
1,000 standing shoulder to shoulder,
a peaceful declaration that
enough’s enough, it’s time to stop
1,000 saying silently that
the rowdy aren’t the loudest and
their voices will be swamped by love
1,000 showing bravely that
our country isn’t built on borders,
false lines between the few and many
1,000 shouldering responsibility
for the nature of our land
and asylum seekers seeking safety
Inspired by the communities gathering in response to the recent riots.
(08.08.24 – edited 09.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Poem 254 – To-Do
[ x ] Today’s
[ x ] To-Do list
[ x ] Is nearly
[ x ] Done
[ x ] Just one
[ x ] More job
[ x ] To do
[ ] My poem
I’m going on holiday soon, can’t wait! The catch is this means a longer to-do list this week…
(07.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Poem 253 – Too Many Games?
I’ve games all about collecting birds
and games about surviving in caves
I’ve games that are about belonging to the herd
and games about driving trains
I’ve games that are set in outer-space
and games in a sprawling city,
games about the future of our race,
and games about its history
I’ve games that feature mechanical robots
games about King Arthur
games about goats that are racing to the top
and games that are full of laughter
I’ve games about architects, assassins, kings,
and even bishops too,
and Romans, Scots, Merlin fighting
and Picts all daubed in blue
Boardgames, boardgames everywhere
and not one have I won.
What else can I do for my breakthrough
but buy another one!
I have invested in many boardgames over the years and keep getting beaten. This doesn’t seem to quell my obsession though.
(06.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Poem 252 – Canvas Calling
Getting out the tents
Straightening out the poles
Counting out the pegs
Shaking out the folds
Cutting out the excess
Clearing out my soul
A lighter verse today – an antidote to the news – the canvas is beckoning! Preparing for a break in Scotland and then my annual pilgrimage, Greenbelt Festival.
(05.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Poem 251 – Under Our Flag
Since when is stealing shoes,
burning bins or smashing windows,
a form of discourse rather than violence?
Since when is encircling hotels,
hurling abuse and chucking stones,
a form of protest rather than a siege?
Since when is wearing a balaclava
standing up to be counted
rather than hiding one’s guilt?
And spreading misinformation
not a barefaced lie?
If you have a legitimate reason to protest,
protest legitimately, not like this,
not under our flag.
Like many, I’m bewildered and shocked by the scenes in our country right now.
(04.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Photo by Pawel Janiak on Unsplash (representative image, not from the current situation)
Poem 250 – For You
Thor’s hammer returns
No matter how far it’s thrown
like him I’m waiting
I’ve been watching Marvel’s Thor: Love & Thunder with my son whilst my wife is away.
(03.08.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
