"Vanity" *

 

And then sweet knight what is a lord's one wish

That I should close my eyes and proffer up a kiss

My scarlet lips as yet unbruised

And chaste as any girl-child

My heavy hair inviting as your favourite filly's mane

And from my yearning skin

My heated pearls entice

And long to rein you in

Upon my virgin-pure embrace

 

My knowing look may yet deceive

A worldly knight

So gaze upon my portrait

And in your wisdom see

What? An innocent or wanton?

An actress-model for his oils?

The schoolgirl dressed in golden thread?

Or woman of your dreams.

 

 

Meg Marsden's poem inspired by the painting "Vanity" by F.C. Cowper



Autumn

 

Leaves that polka
amber crisp
low slung sun...
tree tops kissed
ethereal hand of
autumn mist

Natures voices
brooks that babble
wrens and robbins
berry nibble
wagtails, blue tits
start to squabble

Gloves and scarves
pulled from drawers
Sunday walks
on purple moors
squirrels hunt
for hidden stores

Harvest over
death descents
but life's cycle
never ends
from dead seed
New life begins

 

 

Photo - grand-daughter Ivy with Murphy one autumn .....

Reflections

Reflections
 

 

 

When all the angst of yesteryears

 

fade

 

In the twinkling of an eye

 

That's when you come to realise

 

Just how small you really are

 

You once were here and then you're gone

 

So love is all, and all and all

 

So touch and tell

 

And live and give

 

And open up your heart

 

And smile and hear

 

Of other's fear

 

And don't send flowers when it's too late

 

Do such things now - don't hesitate.

 

 

MM/October 2015