Cool, Gauloises Disque Bleu,
elegant, show-off smoking
for nicotine buffs.

Polly Stretton © 2020

‘In The Summertime’
Mungo Jerry ever means
summertime to me

Polly Stretton © 2020

I love the robin
it’s a special little bird
my favourite friend

Polly Stretton © 2020

A concept, a thought
we try to grasp and control,
elusive minutes.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Lyra shows her faces
gibbous moon beams with shadows
over the threshold

Polly Stretton © 2020

Patio set paint.
Green? Red? Blue? What shade to do?
Something soothing ‘eh?

Polly Stretton © 2020

Shoes, in bygone days,
specifically mules, were called
pantables. Great word.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Maud van den Broecke’s reproduction of  Anne Somerset’s mules, known as pantables.

Fly swat, fly paper,
insecticide in a spray,
all lead to decay.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Sleep deprivation,
insomnia, starvation
of good vibrations

Polly Stretton © 2020

Narrative Distance
with a sense of character
separates readers

Polly Stretton © 2020

The scent of apples
gift-wrapped in old newspaper
pervades the cellar

Polly Stretton © 2020

She plays aluphone,
she often plays barefooted
to feel pulse and beat.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Missing soft kisses,
the gentleness of touches,
loved with family.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Mustard, buttercups,
corn on the cob and sunflower,
yellow has power.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Simple peace and quiet
usually wished for each day,
now it’s here—OK?

Polly Stretton © 2020

For better or worse?
For a blessing or a curse?
Constant or diverse?

Polly Stretton © 2020

She drifts up the stairs,
floats, soundless, down the landing,
frightful, quiet as night.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Lockdown blues over?
Not quite, until we feel safe,
oh, to see loved ones.

Polly Stretton © 2020

Words are meaningless
until imbued with meaning
by those with a care

Polly Stretton © 2020

The night sky sulks dark;
ill-willed faeries live, love, dance
down deep in the dell.

Polly Stretton © 2020