THERE ARE CREATURES IN MY GARDEN

There are creatures in my garden, yet rarely are they seen at all.

Hidden in the walls are spiders, the odd lizard, leather jackets, ants in battalions patrol, as magic cleaning up insect and debris machines.

Weeds scatter seeds for their plants to keep on growing, for snails to slimily keep on their contented munching and gnawing. Sadly your cherished plants are on their menu, as they have a hankering for them too.

Tiny frogs seek shelter in the dampened cracks, hiding from aerial birds and ground, fox, cat and dog attacks.

A mole surfaces to leave a hill in the middle of the lawn, blindly, burying, furiously underneath, hunting juicy worms from dusk to dawn, leaving the molehills for you to pat down.

Butterflies and ladybirds, gavotting about giving amazing colourful displays.

The foxes lay against the wall, enjoying the warmth of the sun and dappled shade after a night on the essential food hunting run.

Squirrels, furiously battling in the trees, as nuts rain down to be lost in the ground. To start new tree growth in this fascinatingly active garden of mine.

Where all I have to do is sit, quietly, relax, whiling away some precious me time.

© 2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay

 

MAGICAL EVENING

The car, filled with friends, set off to enjoy a musical evening.

We negotiated our way through inclement weather to Bookham.

Anticipating good food and what we knew would be good music.

Threading our way down the ancient high street past parked cars to the old pub.

It appeared out of the rain and dark, packed with what we hoped were music lovers.

A table was kindly reserved for us and I was able to tuck myself against a wall and a loudspeaker, which did not distract at all.

The bad news was that it was a pub with no food. We had had a sparse lunch to make room for a big meal.

Nibbles had to suffice to dampen down any non-musical gastric grumbles.

Greetings all around, setting up and tuning noises began, cables draped or kicked out of the way to avoid tripping as the music started to play.

We heard tunes from the past: The Beatles’ repertoire, some never heard before, played by talented musicians of today.

My feet started gentle tapping, hands clapping, voice tempted into quiet song.

Which I stopped when I saw the lead guitarist’s eyes closed, head to one side, listening for discordant notes.

I was enchanted, taken back to more youthful times, when dancing would have started, but not today.

All too soon, it was time to leave the songs and wonderful music of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan, played by Richard Wright, Amie, Collin…

Hoping there will be other magical evenings when they are down our way.

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Nikola Đuza on Unsplash

 

 

 

A COUNTRY LANE

A country lane well-travelled, a village sign-posted in plain sight.

Generations have journeyed along its way.

Some, heads down, burdened by packs to carry; others dawdling along, stopping to admire the view.

Paths crossed and conversations exchanged; trading of animals, fruit and veg with a handshake.

Promises to pay later over a pint and a pipe in the pub. 

Pedlars too have passed through with trinkets to haggle.

On village doorsteps, customers would gather to have a laugh and hear their sales patter.

Gossip too of loves and babies born, news of those who have sadly passed on.

It would be carried from place to place, down the lanes, part of the convoluted chain of life in beautiful isolated spots.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL

Bleary-eyed, you awake to an alarm call which starts it all.

Preparing yourself for a long journey of separation from loved ones here.

Leaving sad faces, tears and no smiling, a memory that clings ’til your aircraft takes off and you are rapidly climbing.

Adjusting emotions, you start forward-planning to see parental family on landing.

Anticipating the joy of touching, hugging, smiling, crying, reconnecting with family seen only on the internet.

You try to relax to reserve your energy for that oh so emotional moment.

Forget not the family left behind who will be waiting anxiously for the call that says you have safely landed and are with loved ones sending their love to your family back home.

2025  ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

THUNDEROUS CHANGE

It started a glorious day when, like a herd of stampeding buffalo, the storm hit, bellowing, wrecking, destroying all we knew.

For an hour or two, it enforced its terror; nothing we could do. Except to know life would never be the same.

All we had was hope, love and community spirit to rebuild the trampled land.

To remain strong and know our human family can work to return our community to order and our homes to peace and a different tranquility again.

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

WAKE UP, WAKE UP

Wake up, wake up. 

Do not stay asleep too long,

Or everything you have cherished and loved will have vanished and gone.

The saying that anything that looks too good to be true, is exactly that: not true.

Easy options often turn out to be the most difficult and protracted to retract.

Wrap yourselves in the letter of the law which has lasted the test of time. 

In time, laws need small adjustments, not their complete obliteration.  

Stand up and be counted to keep the standards most trusted and known by all.

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

LIBRARIES

Libraries give time for empty minds to expand their capacity to absorb information from multiple genres.

Tempted by a perusal along their shelves, you gather books you never even realised you needed.

Once read, they may prove useful in the future.

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Ying Ge on Unsplash

Happy Valentine’s Day

 

 

VALENTINE’S DAY

You looked so handsome. 

You looked so cool.

I saw you glance and smile at me, 

One day on the way to school.

My heart started racing as though I was short of air.

You vanished, and I carried that memory with me everywhere.

End of term, school life stopped, an adult I became.

Of course I dated, but none compared to the picture I carried of you, smiling, looking so handsome and cool.

Hurrying home one evening in winter, I tripped, almost fell,

When a hand reached out and safely grabbed me.

It was you, standing there smiling, looking so handsome and cool.

The magic entrapped us, when you said,

“I have been searching for you everywhere.

“I have never forgotten that day on the bus.

“When you smiled at me and blushed.”

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

2025  ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Pixabay

 

I WOKE UP 

I woke up with a smile on my face. 

No matter what the weather might bring, I am determined to switch a smile into place, 

Coming from the joy within, sharing life with the man I love. 

Each day is different, it is true; not all covered in a rosy hue. 

Life throws some unwanted curve balls. 

One headed our way last night. 

Yet we batted it away, with worries and plans shared. 

No need to frown with tears dripping down. Very few like a misery, a moaner, a groaner around. 

So, with a smile, I am ready to face any bump in the road. 

With the strength of the warm love supporting me 

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly Storyteller of WobblingPen

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

 

 

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Looking down a typical street of side to side houses.

Doors firmly closed. What secrets are they hiding?

During the day, the occupants greet one another or not as the mood takes them.

Converting thoughts and pressures of home to work.

To a place of safety and normality, or not.

It could be there the secret is kept and no one knows

 ’Til it returns to be hidden behind closed doors.

Behind closed doors, wounds of mind and body have small moments to contemplate ‘Why me? Why us?’

 ’Til the key in the door brings terror or real love back in behind closed doors.

2025  ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Breno Assis on Unsplash

 

QUICK TRIP

Dawn is approaching and I have just let Lily out for her dawn parade around the garden. 

It is cold out there, so I do not think she will be long. In fact, here she comes now.

Wow! What speed! 

I had barely opened the door, with a gap big enough for her to slip in.  

She flashed past me to her food dish in the kitchen. 

I heard what might have been a thank you in cat speak, which made me smile.

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

I’M GOING TO BE HAPPY

I’m going to be happy.

I’m going to shake off the blues.

I’m going to try smiling.

And wait for a non-smiler's smile in return.

Before working hard to encourage a smile into view.

I’m going to ask them to pass it on, when they comfortably can.

With this contagion, smiles will be on their way.

So many of you will then be able to smile today.

Chasing any misery and dark moods away.

Have a Happy Day!

Copyright ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Jacqueline Munguía on Unsplash

 

DAFFODILS UNFURLING

Daffodils brought in from the bitter cold and bending winds.

To stand tightly clothed in all-over green.

No brilliant yellow yet on show.

Many reject your picking, as they do not know.

In the warmth, you slowly uncurl to show the touch of yellow you’re hiding.

Each day, you reveal a little more, a little more.

’Til one morning, with your brilliance in full display,

Comments fly and smiles are exchanged

As your yellow faces sit in quiet sight

For several days and nights,

Declaring spring is coming with all its floral delights.

Copyright 2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Shishir Pandey on Unsplash

 

The silence as snow slowly settles.

Quieting the brushing of branches close.

Adding beauty to the scene either in the day, or in softening moon light.

Best observed through glass behind closed doors.

With fireside warmth and wine to sip.

As with arms entwined, we share the moment of this special time.

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

A SPARK 2025

The origin of the spark unknown.

Just when smoke started to show,

Did the hint of a threat grow.

For many, disbelief froze them to the spot.

It will be put out when the firemen race by.

But nature had a crueller plan.

Santa Ana winds fiercely increased their speed.

Sweeping down the hills to the valley floors.

Burning all before them at incredible pace.

Throwing sparks and burning embers to and fro.

Fear caught the onlookers, as they watched the spread.

Out, out, we need to go now, no time to take anything.

Our lives are more precious; grab phones, credit cards, passports, coats and shoes,

Medication, too, if we safely can; no time to lose.

Bottled water if to hand, then into the car, if the road is clear.

From one spark a catastrophe began burning in all directions.

Life so precious made us leave, a terrifying journey.

Returning to nothing left, just tears of anger, memories and regret.

Sadness at the loss of life, and neighbourhoods broken forever.

Long established friendships scattered to homes apart.

All because of that one terrifying spark.

Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash