observations from a gravestone in bowness

brother and sister run around the graveyard,
playing chase – mom and dad encourage them
their melodious laughter fills the air

a young man, shirtless, with a rope tied on his back
proceeds to light a cigarette, put on his shirt,
retie the rope to his back, and walk on carrying a jug of cider

tourists walk by – sunglasses, backpacks, and cameras
all shapes and sizes – young and old –
Asian and European – a boy carries oars,
a big tourist bus momentarily obstructs the view
of the old house built of oak and mortar

a baby crow squawks – quite still in the grass,
it sits for so long – finally it hops away to find food,
still not used to its wings

I go unnoticed sitting on the gravestone

The Moor

Walked on the moor today - Fabulous.
The WIND - so powerful.
The heather and the brush
Swaying in the wind.
So free,
So wild.
ROCKS jutting out.
Small pools filled with swamp.
The expanse of rugged
GREEN goes on and on.
I could get lost wandering,
This I know,
But the moor calls me,
Beckoning me to explore -
"Come,
     Dance in the wind,
         Sway with the heather,
             Walk on,
                   Walk on,
                        Walk on..."