Fox on a Boat

Poem to end the week Used under Creative Commons licence - Image source Prompt found here Another Turn of the Clock Turns of the clocks and here we are again, France and the same house - 9 O'clock to 10 O'clock. It's been 12 months and two halves, Two countries living and One week discovering. Winter was trains and a bus, legging it across Paris one morning Passing the Eiffel in a flash. Driving under thick clouds Surprise visits and a dog Overstaying, overthinking. Then we packed grandma Across the border to meet John Betjeman. Spring was slow and weak Old wounds reopened As days dragged by. Lectures and essays Train rides and a missed exam Heavy weights and lots of sweat. Summer was hot and light Away from failures and grades An exam passed with pastel colours. Greece in the sun, wind in our faces Weaving our way through mountain roads Glittering blue salvation in the distance Cats at night watching us through the hu...

I thought I'd go for a brisk walk in the park, but it was raining as I left the bank. Life here is definitely a lot different, but what else is there to expect? I need more paperwork to open up a 'real' bank account - the card I have only lets me use cash points. I can't pay for train tickets online and it's not practical. I'll need another proof of address. "Even though I already gave you one to open my first account?" I ask. The answer is yes. Well, I suppose it's just one of those things. My appointment is for Friday. I'd planned to go to the park after, but now I'm just not in the mood. I'm not particularly bothered about the light rain, but it's changed the atmosphere. I go to the library instead, and find it closed. This is the point where I feel very much away from home. I have no 'usual hang out place' here. I could even hop on a bus - they are free - and just go, but it doesn't have the same appeal. What i...

...Sorry about the title, but I couldn't resist. After all, "en mai, fais ce qu'il te plaît". Now here's the problem, right now, right here. I can't do what pleases me, because I'm out of ideas. I'm a little sick of poetry (gasp! Did I just say that?) - yes, and let me explain, in the best way I can. I did not mean for this blog to turn into a poetry blog, but, slowly, it seems to have become so. Of course, a month of poetry did not help take this blog away from that path. I love poetry, I really do, but there's also so much pressure involved when everything suddenly involves poetry - am I reading enough? Should I keep writing? Submitting? Am I talking about poems well enough? I basically need a break from all that, all the pressure and 'not good enough' feelings. I may still write poetry for myself, of course, if I get ideas, but I need to get away from the entire publishing idea, and be less involved, at least for a while. This bl...

So it's already a week since I wrote my last NaPoWriMo poem , and I'm already relapsing back into, well.. nothing! I will try working on my poems but I do need a bit of time to read them with a fresh mind. I do not, however, want to let this blog become silent again! So tonight I have a poem for you. Not a poetry challenge one, just a regular poem. Poetry For The Homesick Love Song of a City I Hate Ireland was a welcome breath After months of stifled air all around. The river was my water and the Irish sun stretched my roots. The dark side to this growth Was a previously unknown side effect. Not advertised on the mountains. After three days of life The return was unavoidable. Then the problems start - allergies. A side effect of Wicklow,  the river Liffey and Irish air. I was allergic to you. My love, my life. We've had our problems, I've Loved and hated you, But I can't see me living without You. And now, now I c...