February frosts
Longer days bring back some hope
Cars won’t scrape themselves
copyright Francis Barker 2020
Haiku: February
Tag: winter
Haiku: ‘Striding Sun’
Stride northward, O Sun
Fill our hearts with hope and light
A greater harvest
copyright Francis Barker 2020
Daily Haiku: Benefits of Winter
Candles flickering
The cat loves the crackling fire
Winter benefits
copyright Francis Barker 2020
Poem Update: Girl With A Cello
In a diamond city night we’re
taxied through floodlit streets
angled snow alabasters old facades
medieval histories beyond all guessing
Flanders is frozen outside this misted glass
the two of us sitting nose to nose
our tongues loosening aperitif smiles
white burgundy cutting through brie
making heads light and cheeks flush
and toe touch toe
Our eyes meet when bare soul strokes calf
kissing slim fingers one by one
plied each day to taut cello strings
sneak previews to plots and suites of night
© copyright Francis Barker 2012
Stunning Cochem, Germany
Germany is such a beautiful and varied country – well worth a visit in 2020.
There is beauty and stunning imagery to be found at any time of the year, in any place in the world.
Nearly 17 Degrees Overnight Temperature in Scotland!
In a time where we would appear to be experiencing ever more unusual weather and strange atmospheric phenomena, this story grabbed my attention more than others.
I have to confess I have never heard of the ‘foehn effect’, nor do I admit to understanding it having now digested the information, yet when temperatures in northern Scotland briefly reach nearly 17 degrees C overnight, it makes you pause over your morning coffee. And this at a time of year when the average overnight temperature is around freezing point.
My only ‘experience’ of such unusually warm winter weather was when I was a baby, according to my late mother.
Apparently, it was warm enough one dark January evening for her to sit by the riverside in her short sleeves whilst watching me in a pram. Even if such memories did distort the truth over time, I saw no reason to disbelieve her.
copyright Francis Barker 2019
Haiku: Surviving
Turn around the year
I’m hoping to see its end
Survival achieved
copyright Francis Barker 2019
Haiku: Solstice Cosmology
Far out Capricorn
Pheobus’ wide and fast extreme
Come home to Meru
copyright Francis Barker 2019
Poem: Advent
The most wonderful time of the year,
or so they say.
To the world weary mind the days
are cold and grey;
where childhood’s a distant dream
of hope and love,
an imagination brought alive
simply looking above.
So don’t say those unfair words
like humbug to me,
I just yearn for spring’s return,
it’s my simple plea
copyright Francis Barker 2019
Poem: Birthday
Hope arrives at January’s
close, whether in presages
of spring or several feet of
snow. Right now with snowdrops
peeping, the increasing length
of day, it’s all palpable
at last. Then you call me your
rock – I’m very far from being that,
a mere
step, a name on some
useless bifurcation. Outside
it is twelve degrees; bring on
the west wind and
hope of spring
© copyright David F. Barker 2013
Poem: Girl with a Cello
In a diamond city night we’re
taxied through floodlit streets
angled snow alabasters old facades
medieval histories beyond all guessing
Flanders is frozen outside this misted glass
the two of us sitting nose to nose
our tongues loosening aperitif smiles
white burgundy cutting through brie
making heads light and cheeks flush
and toe touch toe
Our eyes meet when bare soul strokes calf
kissing slim fingers one by one
plied each day to taut cello strings
sneak previews to plots and suites of night
image and poem © copyright David F. Barker
* sorry, but this is an oldie!
