The darkening skies amass and wait
for me to mount my bike,
then dump their contents with a laugh
down from the heavens, an unwanted bath,
perhaps I should have chosen a raft
for this elemental fight!
It’s been a day of cycling backwards and forwards to a variety of events, meetings and services. Every time it started to rain…
(04.06.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Drenched in lethargy, an airless blanket,
stillness squeezes, leaves us breathless.
Yearned for, now we yearn for our release,
and silent sit and wait and longing sigh.
A simple look from friend or passing stranger
wordlessly communicates, ‘it’s hot’.
Enough, we do not speak, we can’t be bothered,
instead we slump or slowly amble on.
Another hot day. I popped into the church where I work this morning and relished a moment in the cool. And then I checked the the thermostat on the wall – in what world is 25.5 C cool in May?! Ridiculous.
(26.05.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Sylvester Sabo on Unsplash
Fling wide your aching doors, throw open windows,
For now the burning sun has started to dim,
Beyond the blue horizon it departs,
And at last the cooling breeze can whisper in.
This yearning land at last begins to breath,
An ease is found after the heavy heat,
Whilst news of soaring records fill the press,
Let’s rise to grasp this temporary reprieve.
34 degrees in May…
(25.05.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Luis Graterol on Unsplash
Blue skies, like mediterranean seas, flow in.
This summer tide invades and heat pervades
the moment. All things are held within its grasp.
Unlike the birds who seem to revel in
its waves, we wilt, and under happy song,
the avian chorus, we slowly stagger forwards.
Straining to swim full-clothed, we start to strip;
will disentanglement lead us to find freedom?
I fear not so, the sun erodes and leaves
us simply red, paddling painfully flustered
to keep our noses above the rising water.
It’s been a scorcher today. From hailstorms to heatwaves, what a bonkers May its been…
(24.05.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Vicko Mozara on Unsplash
Something isn’t right
It’s Bank holiday weekend
And the Sun is out
It looks like a glorious week ahead
(22.05.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Lucas George Wendt on Unsplash
The English spring, there is no greater joy!
The rising of the sun from its long sleep,
As garden birds full-throated song deploy
And glorious colour from undercover peeks.
Bodies relax, no longer stiff from cold,
Emotions thaw, our smiles at last return,
And up above the new-born leaves unfold
As from their time-shares swallows now adjourn.
Immediately our backs are shorn of shirts,
The annual quest for tans begins apace.
We know the fickle sun will soon desert us
And new found skin tone quickly start to fade.
Today the skies are blue, tomorrow grey,
Look storm clouds are already on their way.
There’s nothing more predictable then the English spring! It’s been a lovely day today, but who believes that this will last….
(24.02.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Aniket Bhattacharya on Unsplash
Abandoned, redundant woolen gloves lie prone
upon the hallway floor beyond the door.
A lone daffodil pokes its yellow face
above the muddy grass to meet the Sun.
This unexpected sight (the Sun or flower?) is
a hint of spring after the long, damp, drag
of February, whilst on the path earthen
stains are fading like guilty fingerprints.
Suddenly today, the seasons seem to be turning. No doubt this is but a brief interlude, but it suggests the end’s in sight.
(22.02.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Bad weather threatens,
Will it rain on our parade?
Gentleness saves us.
Some tricky pastoral situations today averted through the application of prayer and gentleness.
(16.02.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Shlomo Shalev on Unsplash
Turned off the M4
Promptly the rain starts to fall
No surprises there!
Visiting our daughter.
(24.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Sebastiano Piazzi on Unsplash
Water sloshes from the sky like ocean waves
Crashing recklessly over the pavements,
Whilst rivers run, white rapids down the roads,
Tumbling torrents full of energy.
Crashing recklessly over the pavements,
Flushing the world within its hungry wake,
The storm’s a torrent full of energy,
A hungry deluge devouring the darkened sky.
Flushing the world within its hungry wake,
The urgent raindrops drum incessantly,
A hungry deluge devouring the darkened sky
Whilst sunshine hides its light in guilty shame.
The urgent raindrops drum incessantly
As rivers run, white rapids down the roads.
The sunshine hides its light in guilty shame
Whilst water sloshes from the sky in waves.
I enjoyed writing the pantoum a couple of days ago, and so thought I’d try another on this rainy day.
(08.01.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Kostiantyn Li on Unsplash
Ode for the Day 