last day of the month, no 31

Spring crowds
through
the door,
A fanfare
of light
and
radiance.
Spring starts
to unwind.
Then
in
an instant,
backs out
abandoning us.

bird static, no 30

Someone has switched on the birds.
They have tuned into passer domesticus,
rising from a shrubbery cradle at first light.

still? no 29

in this moment all is still

holding the breath

a tree branch quivers

and

a fly skims a russet wall 

nearly the end of another month and another theme coming up

The theme for April will be the in-between, which will involve attention to the journey through day to day life. This might include attention when driving, walking, sitting, watching, or going to work. We often focus on getting there, getting to our goal, reaching our targets. At times we fail to notice, because we are too busy focusing on our destination and on the future rather than the in-between, the breath, the hesitation, the moments before arrival.

more....no 28

First day out in a garden chair.
Breathing in new life,
opening
to more and more and more......

Dandilion, no 27

yellow interloper,
clings to a wall,
smiling through
a narrow crack

life colliding, no 26

Beheading deadwood, making way for life. 
Dandilions muscle in without invitation.

no 25

colour has been turned on today,
even the concrete building has
an incandescent glow

vapour, no 24

Criss-crossing
fencing match. 

A writhing trail
recedes in the sky.

repose, no 23

a number of strangers look and see,

emerging from a winter dormancy

breeze, no 22

A cloak of invisibility around the garden.
Plants converse, nodding in agreement.

green

green, no 21

asparagus, army, camouflage, fern,
moss, myrtle, olive, sea, sap, spring

GREEN

spring in the step, no 20

Bones rejuvenated,
eyes bright as a button,
skin as clear as vellum.

early start, no 19

The light of day.
Shivering grass.
Icy blue initiation.

Prunus avium, no 18

Pendants of fleshy
white blooms.
Expansive and bold,
demanding attention.

garden conversation, no 17

A cloak of chilled breath
enfolds the garden.
Plants nod in agreement

kidnapped season, no 15

The weather forecast.
Cloud persisting,
spots of rain at times,
chilly south easterly winds.

A mood of gloom descends
over me.

Someone has kidnapped spring.

day to day, no 14

vibrating sound,
wheels and tarmac,
another morning,
a new day

I love you, no 13

daybreak,
a menagerie
of birdsong.
Then a single
pigeon's call,
i love you,
i love you,
i love you, 
i love you

emergence, no 12

rain weeping
thirsty shoots
wings extend
skyward

basking, no 11

squinting eyes, blinking light,
pause for a toasting caress

new growth, no 10

Just visible to the naked eye.

Self-effacing in public.

A persistant echo.

not sage, no 9

yellow like a Dandilion,
but not at all
furry like Lambs Ears,
too early
green as Sage
no hint of aroma

blues with spirit, no 8

SAD
blues
disorder
bright
light
singing the
blues
with spirit

pay attention

pay attention: a river of stones

Edited by Fiona Robyn and Kaspalita

ISBN 978-1-4467-9622-1

I am chuffed that one of my favourite January moments i hate capitals, is in Pay Attention: A River of Stones, collated by Fiona Robyn and Kaspalita. Throughout January 2011, hundreds of writers wrote a daily piece of micro text/micro poem/haiku/tweet/poem. Fiona calls these works Small Stones, a call to pay attention and observe our daily lives in writing.


Fiona Robyn and Kaspalita have collated about 320 writers works in the book, which can be bought on Lulu as an ebook download, a paperback or hardback. There is also a daily writing community at Writing our Way Home , a great place for writers to get support and network, there are lots of groups covering areas such as short form writing, spirituality and writing, book reviews and journalling, Look out for further calls to write Small Stones in the summer. What I like about Fiona and Kaspa's work is their generosity and interest in engaging in a community of practitioners, they are an interesting example of engaged writing in action!


I am continuing the process on a daily basis, so please follow my work and dip in when you can, also I have another blog which explores my interest in sites in urban and rural settings. Carrying out a daily practice of writing, reminds me that no matter what your interest, engaging in a creative act everyday, no matter how small - writing, drawing discussing ideas, photography, movement, video, get yourself a daily structure and value your practice and creative work. It doesn't matter if you think, why I am interested in this, why am I photographing a roundabout, it might make sense at a later date go with it and pay attention to life and your practice. 

a new day, no 7

luminous warmth
on closed eyelids
feast for a new day

Fenland Family, no 6

Family of The Fenlands,
dressing the land,
preparing for change.

energy awakening, no 5

plans are emerging,  something is surfacing,
an energy stirring,

nesting, no 4

A Clematis has nested on a telegraph wire,
shortly heads as fine as muslin will surface.

Magnolia Tree, no 3

New growth,
embryo's of life,
velvety hearts,
behold a swell
of featherweight clouds

light energy, no 2

Feeding on the light
earlier and earlier
later and later.
Feeding on the light

a new month a new theme - hints of spring

I have just returned from a beautiful walking weekend in The Yorkshire Dales, with some artist friends of mine, miles away from the demands of home and work. It was interesting to think about my writing and observations over the past month on my theme of home from the top of a hill, a swollen river bank and from a distance.

The cosy stone house I stayed in for these few days was full of someone's elses personal objects, but still took on a transient homely quality for, brought about by being with friends, sheltering from the rain, sitting around a large kitchen table and looking into a open fire. For four days it was home from home.

The March focus for moments in time will be hints of spring. Those tiny little moments of life that start to emerge and remind us that there is change in the air. Hope you enjoy the work, and I would love to hear any comments on your own experiences of spring.

Don't forget to log into Writing Our Way Home, Community Forum, and meet lots of people interested in writing and also my friend Fiona Robyn is offering a free e-book which you can download here which gives loads of tips and interesting ideas on writing and paying attention to the world around us.



From the window,
snow drops
chatter and gesture
to me.
They recognise
something is in
the air.