Bake-a-yarn: April 2023

Wednesday 19 April 2023

While angsting about my discarded clothes a friend told me about a phenomenon which is taking place not just in Ukraine but all over Europe.

Read on and watch the videos

They're singing songs all over Ukraine

as they sort and dye, snip and cut,

fabric, blankets, even ladies' tights

folded and woven, thumb over finger over thumb-

Simulating their own hedgerows

mosaics of leaf foliage of greens and browns

of earth's changing hue, mirroring the seasons

and strung on nets meant for fishing and play,

a canopy of handmade prayers and patriotic songs and hope-

Homespun now

to deter

to deflect drones

to defend Homeland

to stay bombs

to save lives.

Friday 14 April 2023

Recently asked to say a word at my sister's funeral I found myself recalling her early days....

She was an artful dodger

Adept at breaking rules

The proverbial rebel spirit

Never headlined in The News.

From fairy on the Christmas tree

To urchin in the street

Morphing from clean to dirty

Was quite her special feat.

Macavity, the mystery cat,

She emulated him

For managing to stir things up

And setting up a din

But when you went to find her,

Like any dodger worth her salt,

She was long gone from the podium

She never did get caught.

The bafflement of Oaks Road

The Mercy nuns’ despair

For when you reached the scene of crime

Well, Maire wasn’t there….

Maire 1950-2023