dimanche 23 juin 2013

Spring breeze


Spring breeze (1)

Sweet-smelling syringa snow
Has fallen among
The blood-red begonias




Spring breeze (2)

Liquorice branches
Dipped in sweet sherbet powder
Sprinkled on the ground

mercredi 12 juin 2013

Last lesson


LAST LESSON


I take a last long look round room 209.
The broken blinds hang like loose sails, letting the brightness in,
The windows are shut now, the air hot and stuffy.
My students, adorable as ever, have tidied away
The plastic cups, empty bottles, sweet and biscuit wrappers
And lingeringly, reluctantly, gone to their next lesson,
Leaving me alone.

I read again their lovely, loving messages,
Their drawings, green and black,
And wish I could take them with me.
Photos will have to do; I can’t let them go.

Then as I wipe them off the board
I feel I am erasing more than just ink
And the emotions I have kept in check
Surge up and spill briefly down my cheeks
As I lock the door on what is now the past.



Written 11 June 2013