The problem is articulated
often when the P.C. meets,
because it’s shaking our foundations
of village life, of rural peace.
But there’s no traction
with council action
(who’ve a county’s-worth of ‘nimby’ pleas).

It’s true – “the road has always been there.”
Stock answers have no truck round here,
‘cos it’s traffic-ing a heavy load
of stress that’s going up a gear.
Yet still no traction
with council action,
in spite of data, year on year.

So how can we scale down the problem,
what solution to our plight?
How long will this rumble on
and drive us round the bend, despite
the lobbying faction?
Well – I’ll scan ya reaction –
a model answer is in sight!

Nan died.

Pen dried.

Two years passed

in wordless gasps.

Grasping into a void –

the quiet blankness devoid

of former eloquence – and yet

so much still being said,

still being faced. Until

a sailor’s coat-frill

opened the sky,

which is why

I’ve kept

my pep.

I wrote about my Nan’s passing previously. It was a time of other darknesses coming to light. Anger and outrages emerged and I became unable to articulate my experiences in writing for some time.

Nan had several funny expressions. One was ‘If there’s enough blue in the sky to make a sailor’s coat…’ meaning – stay optimistic, things will get better. I think of it often and it makes me smile. Clouds may trim the blue, but the blue is there if you look. Her hopeful resolve was part of how she’d present herself to the world, and she was right, we can use the most hurtful things around us and try to make life more positive in all directions moving forward. I’ve been working hard inside, it’s taken time, but a new vigour is breaking through. I love you Nan.

A twig nestles in grimey unkempt hair.

He beams through the stubble

and (with no sartorial care)

delightful indifference takes the chair.