Sharing Rilke’s White Lily

11 Thursday Aug 2016

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As I continue randomly picking at my poetry collections I find that I am never disappointed, always finding  a poem that speaks to me. It is summer and the sun is breaking through this capricious British day and there is Rilke’s poem about the simply beautiful lily.

 White Lily

White lily, just by dint of being
so white -: to come to what?
While reflecting a sigh
from all other colours, it dreams.

The garden scatters a desperate
brilliance around it;
in shade, its white is full
of so many stirring absences …

Rilke

Find time today to stop and enjoy the flowers – best wishes Denny Bradbury

Summer Haiku from Japan

29 Friday Jul 2016

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As the summer rain sets in when the weather forecast was ‘sunny with the occasional shower’ I turn to the beauty once more of my illustrated  book of Japanese Haiku. They never fail to uplift and restore my balance of mind.

summer rain –
it drums on the heads
of the carp

Shiki

strong are the youngsters
even on a day when onions
rot on the beach

Kaneko Tōta

Very best wishes for a day in the sunshine of your mind – Denny Bradbury

Lightness of spirit from Haiku

20 Wednesday Jul 2016

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I thought that today with the sudden onset of the English summer that it warranted a lightness of spirit and so I turned to my beautifully illustrated book of Haiku. Here are two that take us to the wonders of nature:

grasshopper –
do not trample to pieces
the pearls of bright dew

Issa

the songbird’s song –
it stops what I am doing
at the sink

Chigetsu

With best wishes for a loving and peaceful day – Denny Bradbury

Light Relief from Thomas Hood

14 Thursday Jul 2016

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Instead of being weighed down by the complex and disturbing world I decided to try to find some light relief from one of my poetry books – an indulgence that gives me endless pleasure. The book fell open at Thomas Hood (1799-1845) a clever poet with a wicked sense of humour.

To Minerva – By Thomas Hood

My temples throb, my pulses boil,
I’m sick of Song, and Ode, and Ballad-
So, Thyrsis, take the Midnight Oil,
And pour it on a lobster salad.

My brain is dull, my sight is foul,
I cannot write a verse, or read-
Then, Pallas, take away thine Owl,
And let us have a lark instead.

Haven’t we all felt like that at some point, I know I have (although I couldn’t eat a lark!)

Best wishes – Denny Bradbury

Sea Poems

01 Friday Jul 2016

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I write poetry as and when my muse sits on my shoulder and gives me a gentle nudge. During my regular visits to the coast I find the moods of the ever changing sea endlessly inspirational. Now I’m back inland for a while I re-read this and I am right back at the sea wallowing in its majesty.

Sea Mist

Sea mist rolls in one more day
this morning should be fine,
the forecast said ‘its sunny –
all areas given time.

Inland I’m sure they’re basking
in sunshine full of fun,
saying ‘What a lovely day
let’s party everyone’.

Here we have the sea fog,
a rolling mystery
that covers hills of every hue,
if only we could see.

Denny Bradbury©

Have a good day whether or not the sun is shining on you – it must be shining on someone, somewhere. Best wishes – Denny Bradbury