
Stride northward, O Sun
Fill our hearts with hope and light
A greater harvest
copyright Francis Barker 2020

copyright Francis Barker 2020

copyright Francis Barker 2020

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
There is beauty and stunning imagery to be found at any time of the year, in any place in the world.

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