It has been the roughest of days – rain overflowing from the guttering and streaming down the windows and wild, wild  wind, leaves blown hither and thither and strange thumps from outside while things are blown around the yard. So – I give you a  wonderful painting by Giuliana Lazzerini evoking the warmth of a summer day.

To The Sky by Giuliana Lazzerini 1998

We met Brian Patten many years ago when in Yorkshire and he signed his book, ‘Love Poems’ for me. This delightful poem is from that collection. I think we all need the ‘safeguard against imagining’ that there is ‘nothing bright or special in the world.’  There is and we need to keep reminding each other of the good, the bright and the special.

The Stolen Orange

When I left I stole an orange
I kept it in my pocket
It felt like a warm planet

Everywhere I went smelt of oranges
Whenever I got into an awkward situation
I’d take out the orange and smell it

And immediately on even dead branches I saw
The lovely and fierce orange blossom
That smells so much of joy

When I went out I stole an orange
It was a safeguard against imagining
There was nothing bright or special in the world

BP

https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/3065937/iceland-blocked-from-airing-palm-oil-christmas-advert

Checking the published post, I find that the verses of Brian Patten’s poem are all squashed together instead of three line verses. I have tried to correct this but WordPress won’t let me.