MAGPIES 29 December2025

 

You were waiting for me

4 magpies chattered

fleeing from the blue fir tree

where the ice was shattered.

Frost dimmed green pastures

painted all with the same cold brush

as we passed soldiers graves

driven from Amiens and still shivering

under the cold earth.

Memorials of Englishmen

'Richard, 19, 20 October 1918

My eyes turn towards the valley

hedgrows, lakes an old ruined castle

a sharp sun hangs low 

And you are there to meet me

my avenue of  trees

with your copper blanket

keeping the earth warm.

the sun's eye, like those in a portrait

follows  me

the bells are  ringing over a darkened well.

what is it they wish to tell?

L, Ivison 20225 copyright

 

28 December 2025

 

Where were the light shadows today

and the blue sky and clouds?

grey cloud, no mirrored leaves

no diamond copper leaves

touched by frost,

no hedgerow dusted white

by frozen skies.

no sun low stabbing my eyes

shining from brilliant skies.

the happy sparrows did not dance

the seagulls stayed away

But I saw a single crimson rose

which brightened up my day..

L. Ivison 2025 copyright

WERE YOU WAITING?

 Were the deep shadows waiting

under the naked trees

diagonal strips of darkest light

reaching into fallen leaves.

Were You waiting for me Lord

in your Holy tomb

and were you waiting my Child

In the Virgin's womb?

Were you waiting in eternity

to bring the world your light

and did Your Father tell you

That it would be this  bright?

Were you waiting in the heavens

With angels at your side

or waiting by Your Father's hand

in that celestial tide.

And were these trees today

standing still and tall

while heaven's eye blinded me

and  did I hear Your call?

I cannot know the answer

to where you are my Child

I  know I wish my memories

were just as meek and mild.

L. Ivison copyright 2025

26 december 2025 14.14 p.m.

 THE HOLLY BUSH

Joyfully you stand holly tree

dark shiny leaves 

each one a mirror to see

the low sun now burning me.

a sun so  silver long shadows make

this day was made for my sake

this moment bathed in frozen light

mingles memories with sight.

Cradling the Darling winter child

in my heart now warm and mild

where once angry frosts burnished sin

 You holy child could not sleep therein.

The Holly tree was made by You

the pointed leaves the sparrows too

who dart in seconds out of sight

to darkness hidden from the light

Where once before in other days

i could not see the sparrows play

and sing and dance with graceful wing

  my cradled Child you  make  me sing.

L.Ivison  2025 copyright 2025

22 Decembre 2025

 

sweet red boat in a deep green sea

silver light splinters your gloomy face

sweet red boat with irridescent buoy

like a red faced child holding tight 

double your size a blue white boat

hangs over you.

yachts' mastes twang in the low wind

a single gull flies  singing its own song

out of tune and deafening.

sweet red boat  there are two of you

one upside down in the silver tide

olive green walls keep you inside and

 smaller fish slowly glide/.

L.IVISON 2025 copyright.

18 Decembe4 2025 13.12 p.m.

 

Where you there Lord

under the beech tree today?

 where you there Lord

 by the hidden bay?

And where you there 

in the yew  and coppper beech

and where you there

where the  sun cannot reach?

where were you Lord

in my crooked heart

where were you Lord

when the seagulls dart

towards your heaven and

your clouds alight

and where you there Lord

in my dreams last night?

I could not see you Lord

but your image came to mind

in fleeting clouds in white cold skies

where only the crow now flies

I heard him Lord cry out today

Did you hear me Lord in my dismay.

L. Ivison 2025 copyright

17 December 2025

 Were you there today?   

Did the winter sun cross the avenue

that leads to that Holy place?

Have your last leaves fallen

or are you holding tight 

not ready yet to admit that

winter has defeated you?

undiminished your late beauty

by the copper carpet 

you too are 

dormant now, sleeping, waiting for

the Holy Child.  Your shady gloom

will be lit by the Glorious Son

who by his birth redemption won.

L. Ivison 2025 Copyright

16 December 2025

Silver rays spread out like God's fingers

coming from the Silver eye

that follows me.

Passing the dying hedgrows

 a dozen birds flying somewhere

too late to miss the winter.

and then the gulls flying away from the sea.

by this time I am climbing the hill

towards the darkened chapel 

two magpies sit on the poplar's branch

just watching the Winter.

i walk down the beech alley

silver clouds open above the church

yew hedges newly clipped.

November's chrysanthumem's yellow still

but turning brown.

Inside the chapel pages turn

candles are lit, a white creche

above an ancient fireplace.

Silently the chapel comes to life

the singing begins, praise is due

for a story that  I thought I knew.

L. Ivison 2025 copyright

15 december 2025

 

Still tepid December with your blue skies

your silver sun lights sweetly brush and elms

naked yews hold balls of mistletoe

as if caught in a game of giants.

privet's mean leaves gashed with  copper beech

and willows unwilling to let go of spring's leaves

a paler yellow now but underneath

nurses its fallen offspring in a bright circle

jealous of the coming winds.

up the hill and hedgrows red with berries

hollies welcoming Christmas tide

and underneath this darkest bush

a chilly rabbit likess to hide.

L.Ivison  2025 copyright

12 december 2025

 

O silver sun you light my way

you stare at me, above the church

across the port, above the bay

o silver sun  tepid as the world turns

towards Christmas the  brightest day

when my joyful  heart burns

like a fiery sun before its slow decay.

O silver sun, shine more brightly do

these shadows are so sad and pale

as  the Holy child's face is too

who comes each year  and never fails

to cheer our hearts so cold and frail.

L. Ivison copyright @ gmail.com

11 December 2025

 

Were there shadows under the poplars today

was the bed of copper dry

was the silver sun shining brightly

and were there  passersbby?

I missed your long limbed grace today

I missed the silver sun

I missed your wounded barks today

and now that day is done

will I see you tomorrow

under a brighter sky

oh shadows that reflect my sorrow

will your raise your branches high

and will your copper leaves be dry?

L. Ivison 2025 Copyright

tuesday 9th December 2025 1.37 p.m.

 

There was a silver sun today

as i walked down the avenue

silver rays touched each evergreen leaf

and made it shine.

 leaves under the poplar trees as dead as dust

but copper coloured .  each tree had its own

bed of wet moss and caste their shadows

by the light of this strange moon-sun

not deep, barely visible, at 45 degrees.

the rose hip was bright orange resting on

straggling stems which weaved the strangest pattern

outside the window.  a stone cracked against the glass

and then to mass.

two red candles for advent, 

purple garlanded priests and

the joyful news from babylon

of freedom and grace 

lighting the world with a golden Son.

L. Ivison 2025 copyright

Monday 8th December 2025 12.38 am

 

the sapling stands to attention

proud of its arrow head

too weak to hold a leaf

its outline sharp and dead

not wounded yet by any saw

no stumps upon its trunk

not knowing any beak or claw

it braves a frigid wind.. 

 

puddles  reflect an elder's

sickly limbs, grasping onto yellow leaves

spring's infants lost by winter's thieves..

their beauty fades so slowly

from green to gold,  to brown

deaths that delight the passerby

who know they too will one day die

copyright L. Ivison 2025

6 December 2025

 

Lime green grass gives way to

black green  trees

through t he  knuckled

apple tree whose fruit fell years ago

i spy the magpie bury itself in

the wood behind the monastry.

the monotony of prayer lights

from within this moment

and makes it still, eternal/

the colour here will never fade

nor the tree be felled

the magpie rests a memory

forever. Amen

L. Ivison   copyright 2025

5th December 2025

 

Where were you today sharp wind

where were you today cold rain?

Unexpected blue skies , a warm breeze

the weeping silver birch still has golden leaves.

by the bell tower, brick red roof

a pigeon flies and shelters, pauses.

 as I do.

Copyright L. Ivison 2025

3 December2025

 Waiting for the bus I saw the seagulls fly

deaf to their cries I watch the sky

circling after the boat 

I shelter 

December winds and rain

penetrate my bones again

There are no trees 

no tumbling leaves,

 manicured privets stand 

like strange green soldiers

with no hands.

L. Ivison copyright 2025

2 December 2025

 I saw no gulls today only heard them

I felt no joy today only heard it

Sharp December digs into my heart

Windless, cold moss dresses the church window

Black eyeless windows 

bleak unseeing waiting now/

no leaves blow today, no movement

slow advent brings us nearer

to a joyful day when

seeing windows

will be lit.

Copyright  L. Ivison 2025

1December2025

 

winds ripe for Christmas, cutting,

seers through my old skin and

frozen hands.  But oh sweet wind

blow hard and cold, I will not remember you,

fewer and fewer are my  days

I don't care how much you bite me.

forgotten blasts scurrying across the fields

  bare and barren trees

faded into time itself and

these black skeletons wet

from last nights rain are

all that remains of my

Decembers.   

Let me enjoy you now with

your whetted edge, biting into

aching bones, 

Come, blow my scarf across my face

blast and blow 

echo down my chimneys

scare the gulls

just let me have 

one more December.