To start, prepare a base
of knights from Arthur’s Court.
and a dash of Robin Hood.
Stir with diced Norse legends.
Leave to simmer with a Hobbit,
thirteen dwarfs, a wizard
and an ancient dragon.
Add a sprinkling of Old Ones
and once the Dark has risen,
accompany with a garnish
of Garner, Brisingamen and owls.
Inspired by seeing a copy of Alan Garner’s brilliant Treacle Walker at my parent’s house. The owl is in their garden.
(21.09.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
This hidden paradox
Lies deep within the valley
Forgotten but persisting
How can a door remain
A door without its walls?
But here one stands before me
I wonder if I turned
Its rusty red handle
What vista it would reveal?
A road of yellow bricks?
A land of lingering snow?
An ancient path to follow?
I reach and take the handle
In trembling anticipation
And opening, I step through…
This door can be found in Lea Valley on the route of one of our many local walks. I’d love to know what it was for. The diet of fantasy I grew up on fills the gaps until someone provides a probably more mundane answer…
(26.05.22)
© Ben Quant 2022
Ode for the Day 