On my way to buy a morning paper #78

Beneath a sorry-looking tree of unknown type

(dusty diseased leaves, green berry clusters)

a circle of crisp and huddled leaves;

colour chart for painting virgin nipples.

Unnecessarily pessimistic

Early, dark, from behind closed curtains

pouring rain

Later, opening reveals gold and egg blue sky

and I realise it was gusting wind

rustling black silhouetted trees.

Post mortem

Skin venous, dark and somewhat bruised

flesh scarlet-spotted, evidence of recent graze

Cutting knife and board beneath, magenta:

in preparation of a breakfast nectarine.

From my window

Raindrops on the only slightly open window

invisible against the pale blank sky

become silver streaks and saucer-shapes

in contrast to the wine red sycamore beyond.

On my way to buy a morning paper #73

First four folk I see today –

a jogger and two dog-walkers

– all wearing pink, like me.

Fourth man, striped spearmint

same colour as the top mine was meant to be.

Markings

Splashes of raspberry tea

and several red wine circles

destroy the pristine symmetry

of a pink-squared soapstone chess board.

Southbound on the A42

Seen from above, a yellow van, inadequately hidden for its presumable intention.

Back of a flatbed lorry, scarlet rose of tight-rolled tarpaulin.

A shocking pink fork-lift truck, piggy-backed to a wagon

and, weighing down a roadwork sign, another pig,

a saddleback, which morphed to sandbags, orange, black and orange. 

Reminded of Sindy furniture

Dislocating contrast –

turquoise plastic tub chairs, blinding white wall –

with the pot-holed squalor

outside the dentist’s door.

On my way to buy a morning paper #71

Alternating Tuesdays, fortnightly delight

recycling Giorgio Morandi

green, blue and white.

On my way to buy a morning paper #68

Later than usual going for the paper.

Six silver cars and one burnt tangerine

and a poor man’s Wallis Simpson, lemon-faced.

From my window as I drink coffee

Skeins of dirty sheep dag clouds
Dry hawthorn undramatic brown
Through which a serrated glimpse of golf club green
To the soundtrack of BSA A 10.