Flash

I wonder whether
Kingfisher wings
Still flash
Beneath the trees
Along the dark canal
And the heron
Still stands
Mournful 
As a vicar
By a grave.

One is  flashing
Fishy death
The other
Pointing doom.
I love 
The flashing blue
Can do without the gloom.

JL August 31. 12:42

Helter Skelter

Helter skelter
Of the swirling leaves
Pirouetting
Sycamore keys

And so we step
Into September
And further fall
Summer  just remembered.



JL August 30 15:01

Lytham

Sunny day
By the sea
All the world
In shorts
Windmill sails
Are still.
Picnic families
On the green
Thronging
Holiday
To grasp 
The last
Before
Schools 
Go back.

JL August 29. 14:25

Sit By Me

I smile
At a semblance 
Of summer today

A dark grey cloud
Above my head
Is tomorrow.

Reaching for sunshine
Through a grey mist
Is my God given grace.

I can no longer kneel
My prayer being 
Just sit by me I pray.

JL August 28 11:59

Simply

Simply

In my mind's eye
Dappled among delphiniums
Hazed in azure crowns
A plot of Summer blue
Affords a glory set anew.

While in my window

Rain storms in
Striding cross the plain
Rolled towards us from an angry sea
Lashing where once we had
The comfort of the sun's serenity.

Yet I would not be 
Without them both
Each in mirrored beauty
Seem the same to me.

JL August 27 11:49

Dead heading

This last red rose
Has pierced 
Some heart
Or within its petals
Has contained
A consummated love.


Dark velvet folds
Of  slaked desire
Trembling dew drops
At each petal's lip
Caught by sun shaft 
At the break of day.

I remember 
In the fading rays
Of summer sun
Light falling 
On your shining hair
And you were gone.

JL August 26 13:12

Emmie 11

Emmie never thought of herself as a nervous person. She prided herself on not giving herself to worry. Nevertheless, as she turned her key in the lock she had to confess to a slight feeling of apprehensive curiosity. 
She need not have worried, all was calm and peaceful.  Yasmin was sitting in the garden reading her book. There was a cooking aroma gently drifting from the kitchen. Emmie stood in the kitchen door and called, "Smells good! "
Yasmin jumped slightly at the shock of the voice coming down the garden.   "I couldn't sit here all day doing nothing so I made a curry sauce with that jar of Pataks in the cupboard." Yasmin smiled a quizzical smile, "I hope that's ok ? "
 " That's fine. There is some rice in there too."
" I noticed."
It was decided to use some mince which had been bought at the weekend. So that was taken out of the fridge and tea prepared.

The phone rang. It was Margaret Evans. She arrived at seven thirty. Emmie put them both in the front room while she started to clear away and do the washing up. She took in a cup of tea some twenty minutes later and by that time the plans were made. It was results day on Thursday and when they had come through further decisions would have to be made.

 It seemed that Yasmin's father had contacted the school but, knowing the situation, and Yasmin having left, there was no reason to offer any information. It was most unusual that none of the other Asian girls knew anything about it, except for some vague rumours. Mrs Evans said that Jenny would know more when she came over on Wednesday.

Emmie said that she thought that a visit to the hairdressers was in order, as  a shorter style would cut down the opportunity for recognition in town, so to speak. She said she would phone for an appointment on Wednesday morning. Mrs Evans said she would deal the results and administration on Thursday, making sure that  a copy of the results would be sent to the family. It was thought, that they would not know the difference between the copy and the original. However, she was worried that the secret could not be kept indefinitely and she did not know how social services would react. However, she would be as discrete as possible and would only disclose any information if absolutely necessary.

In fact social services arrived on Wednesday morning unannounced. She displayed her identity and was duly admitted. She seemed to Emmie to be treating Yasmin as a naughty girl who was running away from home. Emmie thought this was possibly a dangerous attitude. She might inform the parents with all the trouble that could cause. It was made clear by Yasmin that she was not a naughty girl  and she explained what had happened to her elder sister. She was, after all, eighteen and old enough to make her own decisions.  The SS was reassured by the knowledge that the teacher and head knew of the situation and said she would not open a file as long as the authorities were kept informed.

Yasmin said that Mrs Evans had said she would inform the police if there was any evidence of intimidation or stalking from her end. She was far enough  away and had promised to act to protect the location of the place of safety. Also Yasmin's family lived outside the local area of this social services office and the officer had no intention of opening another case file which would, probably, entail another mound of paperwork.

She left just as the sound of Jenny's scooter came echoing up Chapel Walk. Her bright pink helmet completely covered her identity. She bustled in while removing the helmet and and was obviously anxious to unload the news. The story was out and friends had been on their phones. The news was that Yasmin had run away with a boyfriend and had gone away right down south so that they could not be found in the big city. Jenny had done nothing to spoil the story as she thought it would provide a good cover. Jenny also said that she would go with Yasmin out of the area when they had got their results the following day. Jenny's aunt had a caravan in Filey they could use for a little while and just have Emmie  as a contact point. They just had to wait for Thursday morning. The girls discussed all the possibilities and Jenny left just as it was getting dark.

Emmie decided to wait and see what Thursday would bring and then make her suggestions. She was not too sure about two eighteen year old girls alone  on a caravan park in Filey

JL August 25 17:44

Barley Mow

The field has found
The Midas touch.
Rabbits scatter
To the sheltered hedge
And soon 
The country church
Will brandish wheat ears
At the end of every pew
And swallows swoop
About the steeple top.
We, having watched
Such industry
Will sit at ease
To take a scoop of ale
Outside the Barley Mow.
And relish there
Our idleness.

JL August 24 13:37

Rough Stones

Once upon the hill
Whipped
By mountain ash
And sharp marsh grass
A rocky road
Stumbled across the moor
And I stumble still
In fellowship
Not the best day
For a journey
I hope for brightness
On the morrow
Without sharp stones
And rough edges.

JL August .23. 15:47

Fancy Dance

Did you ever see
A face you loved
In bubbles of a champagne flute
Just filling to the brim;
An effervescent fancy  dance
Of laughter long ago,
A demi-semi quaver laugh
That tumbled in the air,
A brittle echo of your joy,
A quickstep Fred Astair
A Busby Berkeley monochrome ?

That glorious first affair!
When all your skin seemed silver
And first you waked on air.

JL August 22. 13:07

Beacon Fell

Find
The freshness
Of fuchsias
In the hedgerow
After rain,
Hope of clemency
In a curving cloud
And turn again
Along a forest path
Greenly dim,
To feel kind fingers
Sink
Into the softest moss
And taste its saltiness
Along the tongue
So to lift the head
Take deep breaths
And reach the roundness
Of the hilltop cairn.


A prosaic point of triangulation

JL August 21 12:51

Monday Morning

This morning 
Sunlit leaves
Have hosted
Butterflies,
Dun brown
And softly white,
While in the silence
Of my flowery yard
Honeysuckle
Is urged upon
By busy bees
Making up 
For time past
Lost in rainy days.

Such is my delight
In small things
To start a week

JL August 20 12:37

Slow Afternoon

Slow afternoon
Hidden 
In high grasses
Jet streams
A world away,
And beneath our arms
The spinning earth
Turns our heads
To smile 
Into a buttercup 
Taste honey
On our lips
And then,
To gather up 
The remnants
Of another picnic
Below another
Azure sky.

And arm in arm
Make tracks for home.

JL August 19. 16:30

Emmie 10

After scrambled eggs on toast for three, Jenny went home and said she would come back on Wednesday. She had a part time job at the local Spar on Tuesday and she would come round on the scooter. She did not want to do anything out of the ordinary as members of Yasmin's family could call. There was also Jenny's mum and dad to take into consideration. They would be back on Wednesday, with that off she went.

Yasmin had neatly laid out all her things, mainly jeans and tops with a selection of smalls which Emmie said could go in the wash tomorrow. Yasmin could take care of that herself while Emmie was at work. Yasmin had laid out her documents for Emmie to check. She taken time to gather them together bit by bit; her birth certificate, passport, GCSE certificate and her offer of a place at a northern university. She explained that had been planning her escape for months. She had had enough of her father's slaps and her mother's helpless tears. She knew that they would be absolutely upset and doubly furious for her dishonouring the family.She had received a hard time when her father heard that she had not worn her hijab at school. As she said this her face set into a firm, almost hard line and then softened into tears.  Emmie patted her hand and told her that she was now safe and to try to  get a good night's sleep.

From here the story becomes rather fragmented.  Emmie waited until after the mid morning break to have a word with Dorothy who was about to have coffee with the deputy head pastoral who dealt with girl issues. She was well aware of the difficulties some Asian girls had. Yasmin was lucky to get the time to take her A levels. Usually they disappeared leaving empty chairs in final year groups with no reasons given. The problem would arise if she got her grades and had her first choice of university. Then she could be traced and the parents could target the school with an official complaint. The results would have to be posted to her home address but a copy could be given to the friend. She advised Emmie to make no contact with the school and leave it up to Jenny .

Jenny went into school on Tuesday morning to see Mrs Evans. She explained the situation and described the development so far.  Mrs Evans said she would consult the head at Fairbarn School to see what could be done when the results were out. In the meantime she would go to Chapel Walk and talk to Yasmin herself. She would have to tell the Head because   Yasmin's father had been up to school to find out if anything was known about the whereabouts of his daughter but as all her classmates had now left there there was no information available. He had already questioned some of her known friends but they said that they knew nothing. Jenny knew that they would not say anything. They knew the score.

Mrs Evans saw the Head at lunch and explained the situation. He said it would be best if he knew no more about it, apart from the fact that she had gone missing from home and was presumed to be staying with a friend. He said he would leave any other details to Mrs Evans and that she was quite at liberty to take a copy of the exam results. 

Dorothy spent a good deal of time that morning ringing round  social services and educational welfare. Emmie was kept out of it as she was too easily traceable. They had little help to offer but suggested some voluntary groups, mainly outside the area, who provided shelter to victims of abuse and they might know of a group who had a special interest in problems from the sub-continent. It might be best to care for the girl in he time before she went to university as long as there was no chance of abuse. Dorothy said that she could vouch for the placement and social services left it at that. Fortunately Dorothy had the confidence of Social Services through many dealings with various problem cases over the years as school secretary. 

At the end of the day Emmie had been fully informed and went home to give  Yasmin the update. Just as  an afterthought as she was leaving she picked up a blue exercise book checked with Dorothy and popped it into the  famous brocade bag. It might be useful to jot down a few of the arrangements for future reference if circumstance demanded. It would be useful as evidence if anything untoward happened. A little voice in  her head said, "Emmie you  do right !" and she walked out into the July sunshine with a smile on her face and determination in her step. 

" She  must make an appointment at the hairdressers and get that girl's hair  cut. That shoulder length hair was a real giveaway. A short bob cut would really help as a disguise. We  must guard against recognition and choose places to be seen carefully."  With these  thoughts occupying her mind, she suddenly found  that she had walked past the bus stop and did a quick about turn. She noted that nobody had seemed to notice. At least she had not missed the bus.


JL August 18. 16:08

Rain Again

Again the swish 
Of rainy wheels
The drip drop
Damp soil scent
And luscious mossy green.

Remembered valleys
Hung with mist,
Ring pooled silent lakes
Seen through overhanging trees.
And along the lane
The sloppy march
Of muddy boots.

At tea time 
In the porch 
A scattered pile 
Of little wellingtons
While just within 
Are fractious cries 
Of little souls,

 Thank the lord
It's time for bed.

JL August 17 13:50

Busy Body

The day
Has let the light in.
The butterfly
Morning returns
Shining through 
To bring
A freckled afternoon.
With wind chimes
In the trees
And voices
In the distance,
The busy body
Being about their business
All beyond my reach.

JL August 16 14:40

How

I love

Slow summer evenings where
Shadows slip along the lake
Fall down valleys
And sneak behind the hills.

Here on the shore
That palest greenish sheen
Forms the watercolour wash
To the rising Venus.

And how

The shrimper courts the horizon
Its faintest chug urges us to peer.
There see !  Its stumpy silhouette 
Crawls against  the tween light mist.

And then

The sun dips 
Into a mirrored sea.
Below a crescent moon.

JL August 15. 12:25

Set Aside

Set aside,
Unconsidered,
To let the seeds 
Of silence grow
And the flowers
Of the wilderness
Flourish as they will.
A meadow of many tints
To fill my garden
And quietly set
My soul a growing.

JL August 14 12:13

Silence

Between waking and rising
Is a silence without force.
In the silence I hear 
The melody of  a cool
And mellow violin
Feel the touch of cool hands
And the cool fragrance of lavender
Sweeping through the breeze.
In the silence I can walk away,
Leave this shrivelled shell
And trace my steps along the shore
To treasure all that had been 
Once before.

JL August 13. 12:15

Exultavit

 At vespers yesterday
The Magnificat of Palestrina
And through the cantors  chant
The nave proclaims
Exultavit spiritus meus.

Light and vision comes
Through the shadows
To trace a blessing
On our hearts.
To gather up
Our smiles and tears 
And dull the creeping edge of fears.

JL August 12. 12:50

Emmie 9

" Must get on." was the first thought of Emmie as the alarm clock started the week with the early morning jollity of Radio two.  She enjoyed the Terry Wogan show and she liked the sound of that Fran Godfrey. She sounded a rather charming young woman. She got herself a light breakfast of toast and honey and although she shouldn't, a rather strong black coffee with two sugars. 

The effects of the coffee served to raise her spirits and she made her way upstairs to straighten the back bedroom. She emptied the bits and pieces from the drawers and scattered a handful of lavender flowers over the lining paper to freshen them up.  She made up the bed and made a mental note to wash the nets and give them a soak of bleach. They were beginning to look a little yellow. In fact she would do that right now. She took down the lace net curtains and put them in some bleach water to soak. She must make a visit to the mini market and make some purchases to prepare for her evening visitors.

The only exception to her usual shop was a packet of rice and a jar of Madras curry paste. She was unsure about this but thought that her visitor would have plenty of ideas. When she got home she took the net curtains out of the bleach, rinsed them out and washed them through, put them in the washer for a spin and hung them out on the line in the sunshine. They would dry in no time. After lunch, the house all being ship shape  she went into the garden to sit in the sunshine with the quickly drying net curtains. They were up in place after tea clearly whiter and crisply taut.

The door bell went at about seven fifteen and sure enough it was Dorothy.
She had had some thoughts about the situation and said that she thought that great care would have to be taken. The exam results would have to be dealt with and it must be explained to her school but not necessarily with  the police. Their response was a mystery as to whose side they would take.

The girls arrived at twenty to eight. Jenny had a rucksack  and Jasmin a large Debenhams bag which might well have brought home a suit or at least a large pullover. They were rather on edge when they arrived and breathed sighs of relief as they plonked themselves down and looked at one another apprehensively. Jasmin was quite tall and slim with dark flowing hair. She was not as dark as Emmie had imagined and with a different hair style she would not draw attention. Jasmin was really quite frightened  and worried that a her brother would be doing all that he could to trace her. She said her mother and father would not let anyone else know because it would be kept as a family secret for as long as possible. She had sent a letter to her parents and told them of her decision.

"  My sister Rafia  was taken on a holiday to Bangladesh after she finished  school and she did not come back with my parents. When she did  come back she was married and pregnant. That is not going to happen to me. I want to go to university. I am frightened that my family will send out people to hunt me down. But they might not because that would tell the community what has happened and they will be dishonoured. My brother will be asking questions."

" Well you are safe for the time being," said Dorothy " and when I go into work tomorrow I will contact your school, who should I talk to? "

" Mrs Evans is my form tutor and she knows about my problems. I am sure she will help. I have got my university offer and my passport."

" What kind of passport?" Said Emmie foreseeing all kinds of problems.

" British, my parents were born in England, well my mum came from Scotland. So when my results come through I should be able to get a place away from here."
Jenny had, all the while, kept silent.  " I will keep my eyes and ears open and wait for Mrs Evans to have a word."

The two girls were taken upstairs and began to unpack. Jenny was going to spend the night and told her dad she was staying with her usual friend Samantha. Emmie left them to it and went down to join Dorothy

" They seem sensible enough. I will do some contacting with the school tomorrow about results etc and we can move on from there. We need to find some support group to get advice."

" I will make some enquiries through our deputy head. We can just wait and see what happens. If there is any threats we can bring in he police, as a last resort." Said Emmie.

With that Dorothy left and Emmie went upstairs to offer the girls a little supper and reflect on the day.

JL August 11 14:17

Scents to Savour

At the meadow's edge
New mown camomile 
In the afternoon.

And then a crush 
Of geranium leaves 
On a green stained hand.

And in the morning
The clean and salty scent
Of lupins filled with dew
Standing up in beds
All yellow pink and blue.

JL August 10 12:58

Among the Geraniums

Cooing collared doves
Through the chimney,

Sunshine smiles
On lilies in the field,

Blood red poppies 
By the harvest mown.

Fuchsia ballerinas
On the backyard fence.

Summer on the doorstep
In bits and pieces,

High cloud 
Not serious but Sirius.

Time for a seat
Among the geraniums.

JL August 9 13:57

Rose Petal

I search the petals
Of this rose
For traces
Of your scent.

Was it yesterday
We walked 
Among wild hyacinth
Beneath the trees
In bluebell wood?

Or was it
Long ago along
A jasmine lane
We trailed our feet
In Tuscan dust?

Were we lovers then
When the petals of the rose
Curled to  an image 
Of your lips
And the setting sun
Enflamed the naked fineness of your hair?

And will we meet again 
In the far beyond
To melt our unity 
In the siren's song?


JL August 8. 11:50

The Time of Day

A trickle of breeze
Brushes faint hair
Touches soft lips
Raises a promise
Of just in the morning
Coffee scented breath.

Sunlit evening 
Sharpens shadows
Shifts time
Towards a melody
Of more mellow notes
And the taste of deep red wine.

JL 7 August 12:28

Butterfly Smile

Dawn came late today
Visiting with an unsure sun,
The aftermath of a thunder night
With precious sleep undone.

And now a moment after noon
A butterfly has dared  the rain.
A shine has split the cloudy sky
And tempted me to smile again.

JL August 6th 16:26

Thunder Rolls

How the thunder rolls
About the hills.
Charcoal clouds
March along the valley
Split by the thunder crack 
Upon the slice of light.

I wait for rain.

The gathering roar
Of deluge sheets 
And then the rush,
The snowy streak
From mountain top
To dale.

And then the calm
The silver,
Of the moon 
Upon the lake
And the music 
Of the water
Falling
Into sleep time.

JL August 4 13:45

Emmie 8

Emmie watched Jenny  down the path, heard her start the scooter and saw her edge her way down chapel walk. As the sound of the machine faded into the distance Emmie closed the front door and slowly moved into the back room. The air had got a trifle chilly so she turned on the gas fire and let it burn on a low light. She gathered the cups onto the tray and took them into the kitchen. She had just run the hot water, plunged the cups and saucers and was just about to take the pot into the garden when the door bell rang. It was Dorothy back from the saturday flower arranging with an expression of plain curiosity on her face. "What is going on?" it said."

"Come in."  Dorothy went into the back room.
" It's a bit warm in here Emmie," she said. " Now what's all this about?"

Emmie appeared in the doorway with a bottle and two glasses. " I thought we might mull this over with a small sherry."  She filled two small sherry glasses and put the bottle down carefully on a table mat. " Sandeman Amontillado, not too dry and not too sweet."  She avoided saying, "a bit like us," and settled herself down in the armchair. " Oh just a minute. I will must see to this teapot." she picked up the pot and went outside and emptied the tea leaves onto the compost heap. " Sorry about that." she said and she settled herself again.

She told Dorothy the whole of the story so far and it was decided to give the girl a place to stay so that she could feel safe and out of the way. Emmie said she would clear out the back bedroom and that would do for the time being. Dorothy said that she would come over on Monday and further plans could be made then. In the meantime nothing was to be said to anyone else. Dorothy's husband, George, would just put any comings and goings down to church business and no further questions would be asked.

Dorothy left down the path with a wave and a smile, but not before she had offered a share of Sunday lunch. Emmie accepted and  went straight upstairs to cast a calculating eye over her spare bedroom.  Her first thought was "What a mess!" but nothing daunted, she set forth with a will. This place had needed a tidy for years. She had been meaning to sort things out, just in case there was a visit from Mary Louise, plenty of time for that. The wardrobe was almost empty with just a few pairs of old shoes resting on the rack at the bottom. The chest of drawers yielded up sheets and blankets for the bed. Emmie had never got round to getting a duvet for the spare bed. That may now need a further thought. The bedside cabinet was littered with bits and bobs of make up, cologne, a ball of string, a penknife and a stud box.

The stud box was leather and of a size that just fell into the palm of the hand. The leather was stitched around the top and bottom and down the side.  Emmie had dealt with most of David's spent possessions. Most of the suits had gone to The British Heart  Foundation shop and the good quality pullovers and shirts to the local SVP for the homeless hostel. The stud box had somehow been hidden at the back of the drawer. The box opened with a single twist.   Emmie's response to the sight of the contents was a low sigh. 

There were a number of back studs, a pair of gold cuff links and a single front stud. There were always more back studs. They were flatter, being a bone button with a short metal shank and a smaller metal button at the end of the shank. They were never misplaced as they could always be found comfortably tucked into the neckband of the collarless shirt. The front studs always needed a search. They had a lower bone button but had a longer shank with a small nipple at the end which folded flat to slip through the front of the neckband and into the two ends of the collar. If came out when the shirt was taken off and  could fall to the floor and roll into hidden places until they were found to be lost and found when they rattled into the vacuum cleaner. As she rolled the stud between her thumb and forefinger, a slight flush of a smile drifted across her face and she caught sight of herself in the dressing table mirror.

She recalled a time as young girl in her convent school when she was in a retreat given by a crusty old Jesuit, seated in his armchair on the chapel's sanctuary steps. They sat under the forbidding eye of mother superior and   Sister Euphrasia their form teacher. The admonition was on the temptations of the flesh and impure thoughts. And afterwards the following conversation over lunch was whispered across the table.

" Well my child, did you entertain impure thoughts ?"
" No father but they did entertain me." followed by a stifled, explosive paroxysm of giggles. Happy days!

Emmie replaced the stud, closed the box and went into her bedroom.  She placed the box in her own dressing table drawer. These were private things and private thoughts from a previous life and so they would remain.
The organisation of the spare room could wait till Monday morning.

JL August 4th 12:36

Dusty Days

Come rise
And with me dance
Among the dust motes,
That lift above
The surface of the past.

Remember long ago
The Bario Gottico
The dancing colours
On a blond boys hair.
Pale pink and green
On paving stones
The winding pattern
On the circling stair.

All is dark
Save for the single
Shaft of light
That beckons
To the heat and dust,
The teem of city life.

JL August 3. 12:56

Shadows

When the sun
Shimmers into sunset
My shadow
Stretches out behind.
I don't remember
Passing it.

Strange how the morning
Casts it before me.

In the hurly burly
Of a midday meeting
It almost trips my feet.

Then it rests
Just by my side
A friend at my elbow.

Now it swings
A swirl behind me
And in the nightfall
It is not there at all,
A mere memento 
Cast in moonlight dust motes
Through my window.

JL August 2 12:24

Like The Garden

How like the garden
I have become,
Wind tossed
Limp and leaning,
The odd moment
Of coloured distraction
Lending relief.

And yet within
The still glimmer of life
That does not prompt 
The question
Is anybody there?

Forever ringing 
The bells of memory,
To recall times
Now just remembered
With affection,
That were in themselves 
Sublime.

JL August 1st. 11:01