Beetle in the bathroom / Bug

August 2010

A one centimetre beetle
I got it out of the bathroom floor-water yesterday
put it under the cot

I thought that was that; there was no movement

The next morning, not there

Back in the bathroom, he fought the water again
Again, I put it under the cot

A few hours later, he wasn’t there
Back in the bathroom, he fought the water again
I washed the soap away, picked it up,
put it on the ledge of the bedroom window

He’s there now, unmoving, and will be for a long time…

But the next morning, not there;

the window doesn’t close tight
he must have got away in the night

How nice

Bug

On the bed, trying to write
before the sun is out for the count

blunt pencil, blunt thinking too

then

a tiny bug
walks onto the paper

I tap, 
he jumps off 

but to where?

Bamboo air

2 April 2010

the past few afternoons, with the sky clear
two bulbuls alight on a high bamboo
going to and fro in the late afternoon breeze

they whistle to me, I whistle back
they chat with each other
ten metres high, at ease with the air

the banana plant is watching them
wondering why they go up there
not here

A contrast in weather

Part 1

on a warm Welsh night
one can see the moon
window-beating in random, albeit in haze

the chinking of glassware in an open garden
the wooden chimes of a neighbour
play a musical smörgåsbord of quiet noise

a train goes by, the whistle a perfect fourth
one may get the occasional bird cry
or catch the trickle of the Gafenni

the orange street lighting
in quiet contrast with anything
the brush of plant against window

on a warm Welsh night
one can see the moon
window-beating in random, returning your gaze

Part 2

on a cold Welsh night
one can see the rain
window-beating in random, making a maze

just a few people about
hunched in thick coat
going to the corner shop

the rest are at home
enjoying music on the wireless or
the mental poison of the goggle box

the wind picks up
in a howl of temporary energy
the hissing gas fire, the curtains drawn to

on a cold Welsh night
one can see the rain
window-beating in random, enjoying the haze

Where are you from?

I met

when teaching in a university
in Kuala Lumpur
a few years back

a student from Africa
I was on my way home
but I had a brief chat with him

then I, 'Where are you from?'
Eyes open
teeth contrasting with skin, big grin

'Aaahmm fraam Sen-gaaaaall!'

I enjoy up to now?

You bet