The green bin truck pulled up beside the house.

Two orange eco-warriors jumped out.

I passed one "Wow, not many women do your job."

She smiled. Walked on.

I passed the second operative, a man.

"It must be nice to have a woman around."

He smiled. "It is."

Leaving the local leisure centre

I recognised the male manager

from the time a year ago

he banned me from the gym and so

I didn't bother to say hello.

The crush of customers made us wait

a little while to pass the gate

but then he did something to astound -

outside the exit he bent down

and picked up a dog-end from the ground.

To relax and calmly drift asleep

I think back over the day and keep

in mind some event about which I can say

at least I did one thing well today.

Life together

There comes a time for most young men

to realise beauty is not for them;

no beautiful woman will be their wife

but plainer ones may share their life.

And as for the women, they soon know

that no Prince Charming is going to show;

enough for someone to always be there

to show some kindness and give some care.

And yet for all, daily life will thrill them

with beautiful babies and wonderful children.

Autumn

Autumn is two faced, double headed;

Janus looks back as well as forward.

If the seed set in Spring sprouted true and grew,

then the flowering of life as something new

produced the glory of Summer beauty

and heralded Autumn maturity.

But looking forward is less attractive

as life slows down and gets less active

producing the fear in shrunken apples

that what were fruits become vegetables.

She was clearly no longer a youngster,

unlovely in face and a bit overweight

but a regular customer in the bar

at the weekly local live band night.

Alone, she always tried to shimmy

but arms and legs seemed to threaten a fall

so one night I got her to dance with me

and she had no sense of rhythm at all !

And then last night she came in with a man -

a poor specimen, old, small and hunched

but I hope for them both it's more than a whim,

that he needs her as much as she needs him.

Varkala, Kerala, India

Faint stars enspangle grey-cloaked skies

while fishing boats like fireflies

sluggishly float the dark-draped sea

and wink the while at you and me

cliff high above the wave white beach

among the palm trees' rustling speech.

This evening's warmth will still remain

in England's winter cold and rain.