Tag: poem

So, farewell then

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Anachronistic

our hereditary peers

time’s up your Lordship

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by Scooj

On the (old) news that hereditary peers will no longer be a part of the UK’s parliamentary system from the end of this session. A few will be made lifetime peers as a concession, but their children will not be admitted to the chambers by birthright. Took a while, but got there in the end.

Blackthorn

Blackthorn, Eastville Park, Bristol, March 2026
Blackthorn, Eastville Park, Bristol, March 2026

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As if snow laden

stark barren branches and twigs

offer spring blossom

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by Scooj

Seven ages of man

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All the world’s a stage

As You Like It, I like it

learned and memorised

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by Scooj

  • I made a late New Year’s resolution, which was to learn a Shakespeare speech, and yesterday I mastered the ‘All the world’s a stage‘ speech from As you like it as spoken by Jaques. It is not a play I know, but the speech is very well known.

Not only is this a fun thing to do, it helps with a bit of brain training too. Next up is to re-learn Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day’, which I first learned at school.

Skat’s challenge

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Gunners misfiring

adding squeaky bumminess

to every fixture

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by Scooj

Thank you Skat for the challenge – not an easy phrase to incorporate into the short format. I fear every Arsenal game from now until the end of the season will be filled with such squeaky bumminess, but they seem to be rising, just about, to the challenge. Of course, as a lifelong fan, I am preparing for disappointment.

Amnesty

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Food cupboard reshuffle

out of date packs and cans, canned

catharsis in play

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by Scooj

Spring

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Three days dry and mild

a relief for groaning soil

asks are we there yet?

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by Scooj

Hoarse, again

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Vocal cords work out

urging team to narrow win

Just nine games to go

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by Scooj

  • Arsenal 2 – Chelski 1

Warming

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The sun’s golden rays

brush my old clothes warming them

snoozing without cares

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by Scooj

London bound

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Nine jays in three trees

early morning station treat

off to a good start

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by Scooj

Eager beaver

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Beaver releases

licensed reintroductions

hearty welcome back

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by Scooj

  • after centuries of absence, Eurasian Beavers are being legally released into the wild in England. The licensing of wild releases is necessarily strict to account for landowners, flood risk, farmers, ecological impacts and of course suitable habitat for these industrious creatures.
  • Last week, licensed releases occurred in Cornwall and Somerset, offering a feel good factor in a world dominated by gloomy headlines. Nature recovery at work.
  • There are beavers in England in enclosures already, but they cannot move beyond the enclosures.
  • The illegal act of releasing beavers, so called ‘beaver bombing’, has been happening for a few years, but while it might accelerate colonisation, it is considered irresponsible, often failing to account for all aspects of the communities into which they are released and potentially having unforeseen consequences, and avoidance of responsibility/curation.