the reed bunting
says tshee, says
tschee again.

(march 2010)

starts the day much like any other
spring time, unless you hear the news

now rationed to once or twice a day
with tea or knitting

just now am up to light the garden
fire before the neighbours rise as

we don’t wish to annoy no one with
leafy smoke

have thoughts of fumigation down there
still in my pyjamas for i don’t see the point
of wearing something clean for such a smelly

job

two geese fly over
slight formation

wood pecker in our lane
rattling if that is the word

the air is cold clean when the smoke
hits then quickly dispersed before the waking

i imagine one day will stay in bed late
with nothing to worry yet i have had that

once

or even several times

now enjoy the early days the changes
and hope for the best

folks are kind
those i hardly know
with messages
for help and support

i return back virtually
only allowed out for essentials
and i have those

6.18

smokey jo

(march 2020)

is all quiet in the garden

no one to be seen only

the birds and insects

& one green caterpillar



when we viewed the house i agreed

yet wished to for more isolation



he says no we need to be near

town and a main road with

a bus route



when he was gone & i got my

pass i saw the sense in that yet

still wanted more seclusion



so i made the garden come in

a way that sheltered me



now corona came

and i am rather

isolated



14 days with more to come



is all quiet in the garden

no one to be seen only

the birds and insects

& one green caterpillar

(march 2020)

..day 14..

took the longer route again and walked the verge
to distance from the boy and the dog. we shouted
across the main road punctuated by the dust of
essential lorries
and some domestics
flouting the rules

we must walk directly from home
not take the car to exercise
in a prettier place

i cannot get much prettier than here

james

supplies were delivered and each thing held
high for me to see at the upsairs window

too

many to explain
some things i never had before

yoghurt corners, softest bread bought especially
and chocolates so divine that i shall smooth the
wrappers to keep as memory

long life is rare now a luxury

he should not have come
he said he would use
the word vulnerable for me
if stopped

he wanted to share the food as he had plenty

later i cleared more leaves and had a bonfire

those in the van camping have been visited
told by the police to go home, they reply the
van
is home

i offered supplies
at a distance

they needed none
we waved goodbye

i walked round the studio and garden before bed
to notice and reflect on what i had done…..

(march)

day 13.

we are power walking each day
looking ridiculous with jeans rolled
up
stopping to look here and there
at all the new things
with spring

stopping while sweating to remove
some layers
chatting to myself

and so i answer while things fly
round my head in the sunlight

saw no one yesterday

yet know today that those out camping
in their vans will be sent
back to

stay at home

a nightly routine
is shopping
online

perhaps at 2am. it is quiet then the
website don’t stick with it all

day 13
i may have a visit at a distance

the postie says he will post urgent
letters and use his own stamps for
me
wearing his blue medical gloves

sometime i weep

..hello day 12..

reflecting on how the twigs were a worry

then i made them decorative



you see



there is a large tree in the garden

and during storms branches fall

so do do all the tiny twigs



lay underfoot

now in lockdown a while

started clearing them gathering into my apron

into the house and on the fire

with there being no garden waste collection at

my house no more



is a long story, a bit personal and got a refund

anyhow



so the fire burns up real lovely



returns to the garden to gather more

this time in a bag

therapeutic

ready for the kindling

will not be buying morning sticks no more

a while



2

( wriiten in march)

day 12.

to think of you up to your knees in snow

is preferable than imagining you swamped

in ***** laundry

saying that my laundry closed yesterday

i phoned and wished them all the best

the machines hard going making back ground noise

later my fuel arrived, logs, nuggets and sticks, delivery

man angry at others calling in the store for non essentials

and crowding together which is not done protocol

no more

for using cash and buttoning the payment machine

with fingers even though the swipe amount increased

like he said how come compost , wild bird food come

important when folk are dying

his wife works at the hopital in town

on my walk i meets the wooden dog, famed by me

on instagram and says hello.

his master stood a distance chatted a while until we

moved on both noting, commenting on the brighter

sky

both noting the quiet road

i saw violets james

on return had a bonfire

the garden waste which

made me really happy

james

later when weary i failed with all the news and worry

yet

on waking early and bright found that the asda site

gone quiet and booked my food delivery

so remain independant a while

longer

hoping your fuel came too

stay safe

( note…james is a ‘penpal’ lives on tug hill. we share experiences daily)