The fussy daughter-
Eats Dad’s Bolognese version ~
Simple victories.
Pittosporum scent –
Attracting the bumble bee ~
Robin prefers crumbs.

Beautiful beach scene –
Marred after close inspection ~
Sand filled with plastics.


Goodbyes to old car –
Thanking it for its service ~
The spirit in things.

David
Flu delirium –
Letter to Attenborough ~
That I’ll never send.
Whiskers
After many years –
Mostly black untrusting cat ~
At last purrs for me.

Populations
Busy bumblebees –
Winter mahonia blooms ~
Eight billion lives.

Kind mentor passes –
As wise as the oldest hills ~
Still learning from him.
[For C. Barry Long, RIP]
An Algarve retreat –
Silence broken by dogs, saws ~
Then, by lovely owls.

44
Marking a birthday –
For someone no longer here ~
Aging in our minds.
