catkins in jam jars 

sticky buds, frog spawn, snowdrops - 

school nature table

sudden gusts of wind 

the bamboo brushes grey skies

I begin to paint

on Portesham hill 

among stumps of thorn and gorse 

long-horned cattle graze

the sea mist lifting

a silver sun skims the waves 

starbursts on the shore

boats high on the beach 

palette of winter colours 

waiting for spring tides

high in a grey sky

geese flying in formation -

writing on a page

a clump of crocus 

yellow candles in the rain 

flames on waxy stems

every twig shining 

in sudden sun after rain 

days getting longer

sun low in the sky 

paints shadows round tumuli 
stripes across furrows

two squirrels chasing 

eachother round the tree trunk 

heedless of the rain

the moon almost full

beckons seas, banishes sleep

lights the island road

in the morning frost
blackbird on the compost heap
with spring-yellow beak

does a heron stand
still in the water meadows -
just a tall tree stump

on the horizon
a curtain of rain over
the calm silver sea

in the dark kitchen 

jars of home-made marmalade  

glow like little suns

pearls of fresh frog spawn 

glisten in the long wet grass 

good news came today

snowdrops in the rain 

beneath a pale quarter moon

winter turns to spring

thick green rope coiling

snake-like on the water's edge 

we tread carefully

the pier reflected

in still water under cloud

birds strut the shallows

a bank of grey cloud
looms up on the horizon
like a tidal wave

crocus bulbs in pots
sprouting clumps of narrow leaves
frail wands in the frost

driving home at dusk
strong winds and flecks of rain
dead leaves run like mice

The wicker man strides
across the marshy levels
a bird on his arm

on the cobbled street
while people rush in the rain
a flock of white doves

an empty blue sky
white jet trails scratch the surface
with noughts and crosses

mist covers the hills
this morning I overslept
dreams still cling to me

early daffodils
in a vase on the table –
rehearsal for Spring

a sky full of stars
like pinholes in black velvet –
we look for patterns