When greeting guests in Tokyo The custom is to bow down low While in Tibet both old and young Say hi by sticking out their tongue In France it’s chic to peck the cheek And friends will clap in Mozambique Though Greenlanders will sniff your face Before they help you with your case. Most Eskimos … Continue reading Seasoned Greetings
The figure on the mountain knewFar higher than the eagle flewBeyond the sun and past the lightWere men who crossed the sky by night.Soon after dusk their fires appearedThen slowly, once a course was steeredTheir caravan set out en masseTo make its empyreal pass. Like beasts migrating on the plainsLike swarms that form to greet … Continue reading Constellation Prize
Our friend, the snail, needs never pack For all it owns is on its back It heads out on the open road Quite unencumbered by its load Snails never need to book hotels Instead they curl up in their shells Emerging when they feel the need To partake in an evening feed We mock the … Continue reading Less Cargo
“I’m being sued by the Catholic Church again,” Laverne announced, while reorganising her purse.“I have no words for that.”“How unlike you,” she mused.“Hold on, I thought you were working on a piece about the East African Lion,” I suddenly remembered.“Turns out all they do is sleep. My son can do that.”“Have you ever been to … Continue reading Model Behaviour
Prince Harry chose to jet abroadAnd start his life anewHer Majesty had thought it odd He'd given not a clue.While chess has always been aboutThe move that's unforeseenNo pawn has ever taken outA well-defended queen.
Several years ago while travelling around Ukraine I entered the only shop in a remote village to buy a couple of cold drinks. Placing my purchases on the counter, the elderly shopkeeper tallied my bill on an abacus then pushed it toward me. Not entirely up to speed on ancient counting tools which predate our … Continue reading Emotional Baggage
I thought my life was going well until I watched TVWhere some young thing in yoga pants screamed: Get off that settee!She told me that I eat too much and ought to exerciseAnd should feel guilty every time I supersize my fries.I changed the channel just in time because I got upsetOnly to hear a … Continue reading Viral Spiral
So we're out of the EU. Although I've lived in the UK over 30 years, I still play the role of casual observer even during times of great upheaval. This does not mean I'm short of an opinion or two, it simply means I know when to put up and when to shut up. Regarding … Continue reading EU Turn
A lot of people ask me the difference between Canadians and Americans. Well, first the facts: our country's larger, our population's smaller, Canadian men liked wearing clogs in the '70s and we've never considered testing the viscosity of spray cheese in space a worthwhile scientific endeavour. I noticed when working abroad that colleagues quickly started … Continue reading Star Spangled Boner
My gran’s runs two teapots(this tends to make her wee lots)Her good one goes out on displayThe other she keeps tucked awayWhen visitors decide to callThe posh pot serves them, one and allDispensing cups of Earl of GreyFrom her brushed-silver serving tray A person shouldn’t trivialiseA ritual so civilised When Elsie Burns, who lives next … Continue reading Alcohol On You Later
