Ode To Things

Ode To Things
after Pablo Neruda

I LOVE…
Magnolia trees in blossom
The click of film advancing in a camera
The coffee mug waiting for me every morning
Melted cheese, all crispy
The colours of the rainbow
My bike…
Freedom
Laughter
The perfectly ripe avocado
Clean tables
Writing with a fountain pen... not a keyboard
Horizon beyond the sea
Pretty girls

I ADORE…
Pav bhaji
My dogs
Yes, dogs
My niece and nephew
The blue vase I didn’t buy in the shop window
Words strung together
The whistling of the leaves
My collection of green and blue sea glass
An African grey parrot, a talking parrot
Granny stories
My gran (Ba)
Old books
My mum!!
Singing in the rain
Comfort of a beloved book
Athletes who swim like a dolphin
The sunlight on my skin
Snow set aflame by the sun
Swimming in the sea
The universe
Bodyboarding, catching a wave
Dark blue skies
These writing sessions

I CHERISH…
Kind words
Yes, kind words
My ancestors
Sunshine in Scotland
Hugs
Yes, hugs
The slow clap of my school assembly
My blessings
Smiles and love
Chunks of unplanned spacious time
Hands on my shoulder
Random kindness
Holiday
Time to breathe
Stillness
My life
Patting a cat
My hair being stroked
Stroking someone else’s hair

OH MY…
World
The almost-too-muchness of it all
Suffocating tight trousers
My... flipping memory!!!
A fountain of chocolate

I GLIMPSE…
Across the horizon and see these beautiful colours
A god in the crowd
A figure in the darkness
A time of more ease
Across the ocean
The rare cloud in the sky
Over the rainbow
A ray of hope
A moment of peace
A flicker in the eyes
Horizon
Tomorrow’s sunrise
Horsemen in my dreams
A cheeky thought

AND THEY WILL…
Survive
Be there for us
Come back
Sing until the morning comes
See me come out of it all
Light at the end of the tunnel
Celebrate
Rest, rest and rest
Sing today’s song
Find the flesh beneath their skin.