I really do love an old-fashioned plum,

One bite and I tell you, I’m quite overcome!

There’s something about them that makes me just grin,

The texture, the flavour, the juice down my chin.

I’d have one for breakfast, lunch, supper or tea,

Especially when eaten straight off the tree.

© Caro Ness 2015

I’m cold!

Even with my hat and jacket on.

I’m cold!

And that makes me tired.

I’m cold!

But I found this convenient perch,

And I’m hunkering down.

I’m cold!

And my legs don’t work,

So don’t expect me to try.

I’m cold!

So would you just tie the lead 

To the front of this contraption,

And walk me instead?

© Caro Ness 2015

I don’t mind saying, there’s no mistake,

I am a big fan of a birthday cake!

I’m really happy as a clam,*

With a Victoria sandwich with oodles of jam!

Or a really lovely chocolate sponge,

So I can cover my face with cream and grunge!

So don’t hold back! Just load my plate,

I’ve an empty stomach, my need is great!

It was a year ago, today,

That we met on the dance floor.

 Someone took a photo of us.

Two lonely people in a fluid, graceful embrace.

And yet the moment 

My right hand rested in the small of your back,

 And I held your hand in my left,

My world was not solitary any more,

It was peopled with you,

Just you.

© Caro Ness 2015

Nine kings,

Gathered together,

At Windsor Castle

On May 20, 1910,

To mourn the death

Of the late Edward VII.

Standing, left to right;

King Haakon VII of Norway,

Tsar Ferdinand of the Bulgarians,

King Manuel II of Portugal and the Algarve,

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany & Prussia,

King George I of the Hellenes,

King Albert I of the Belgians.

Seated, from left to right:

King Alfonso XIII of Spain,

King George V,

King Frederick VIII of Denmark.

They are ghosts of the past,

12 kingdoms remain*,

But we are unlikely to see the likes of this ever again.

© Caro Ness 2015

There are currently twelve (12) sovereign monarchies in Europe: the Principality of Andorra, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality of Monaco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the State of the Vatican City. Ten of these are states where the head of state (a monarch) inherits his or her office, and usually keeps it for life or until they abdicate. As for the other two: in the Vatican City (an elective monarchy, styled as an absolute theocracy), the head of state, the Sovereign (who is a Pope), is elected at the papal conclave, while in Andorra (technically a semi-elective diarchy), the joint heads of state are the elected President of France and the Bishop of Urgell, appointed by the Pope

Wikipedia

Out of the darkness,

If I cover my eyes

Do you think

My prey

Will see me coming?

© Caro Ness 2015

The Renwick Smallpox Hospital,

Roosevelt Island, New York.

Founded in 1856,

It’s rumoured to be haunted,

The most haunted place in New York State. 

The shattered souls

Who dwelt within its walls

Still walk, still inhabit

This desolate ruin,

A relic of a world forgotten.

© Caro Ness 2015

Photo copyright Robert Keil

I know this thing

Is supposed to keep me

Preoccupied

And normally it does

I like watching tennIs

I chase the ball

Backwards and forwards

Across the net

But today

Nothing

Just a black screen

What happened?

© Caro Ness 2015

The world is blue today.

Trees throw long shadows,

Into the lake,

Bleeding off my page,

And the water reflects back a perfect image.

There are a touch, or two,

Of pink highlights,

In an otherwise cobalt world.

© Caro Ness 2015

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