1566 The Red and the Yellow

 

The Red & the Yellow

They are more than just supporters,
They cheer the circus on;
Cowards or just stupid?  They crow
The madness of King Don.
He tweets—
They leap up from their seats.
They know
The carnage he can bring
To the democratic quarters
But, yellow, they just stand and sing.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1565 - Lack of proficiency

 Tossed a job to do.
Not given any support—
An awkward meeting.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1564 - Not my job

 Push back on Spanky.
Why should I write the letter?
Not doing her job.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1563 - Follow the Crowds

Against the odds
I won the football tipping.
With the odds, perhaps.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1562 - Size does matter?

 The Tigers and Cats—
Two football adversaries.
The Tigers prevailed.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1561 - A little rain must fall

 It's going to rain.
You can smell it in the air.
No tea leaves needed.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1560 - Bring out the bread and cheese

 My Granny's pickle.
Making the house smell lovely.
A simple pleasure.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1559 - A visit from the Wongs

 Mr Wong and son.
Or Mrs Wong and daughter.
Cannot really tell.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1558 - Football Gand Final

 A longer weekend.
Happy with the extra day—
Not going to watch.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1557 - Little Miss Precious

 Petulant princess.
Doesn't acknowledge a gift—
Passive aggressive.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1556 - Bonus!

 A cancelled meeting!
Suddenly I have free time.
A simple pleasure!
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1555 - Knit one, Purl one, Drop one.

 Today's big challenge—
Unravelling a problem
And reknitting it.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1554 - Solar Keratosis

 Liquid nitrogen—
Burning off the unwelcome.
Too much sun when young.
 .
---

© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1553 - Unskilled Labour

 Leading the ladder—
Winning the footy tipping!
Just three games to go...
 .
---


© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery
---

1552 - Comensal

Uneasy diners:
Mr Wong and two magpies
A three beak circus.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

Repost - The Blackbird of Remorse

 .

You've heard of The Bluebird of Happiness.

You've heard of the Pigeon of Discontent.
You've heard of the White Dove of Peace.

A Rondeau 

With the recent visits by Mr Wong

a repost seemed fitting:

 The Blackbird of Remorse

With steely eyes, it watches you
Despair mistakes and endlessly rue
The choices made, now viewed aghast;
Right at the time but time has passed.
The bird is harsh and oft untrue
In the scorn it piles on you
For things you cannot now undo.
It cares not and attaches fast,
With steely eyes.

What’s done is done, the options few
To retrace our steps and start anew.
You can but endure the questions asked
By the watching, critical cast:
These birds don’t leave, they just accrue.
With steely eyes.

.

---



© 2012   J Cosmo Newbery

---

1551 - Fight or Flight?

 Mr Wong meets Mr Pie.
Both looking for meat handouts:
The feathers will fly.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

And a crow watches from a neighbour's roof.

1550 - Waking Up

 The daily Sammy.
It can be rather patchy—
Do we continue?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1549 - Please Wait On The Verandah

 Mr Wong visits.
Came inside the other day!
Scared everyone.*
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

*Himself as well.

1548 - Where have all the Senryus Gone?

 The best intentions—
Life can get away from us
And habits crumble.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1547 - Breakfast Happiness

 Saturday dinner.
Leftovers for my breakfast!
It's a good life.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1546 - Strange Times

 Licorice by mail.
Shopping with Corona.
Times are different.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1545 - Mr Wong

 Mr Wong visits.
Bright yellow (critical?) eyes,
Demanding his tithes.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1544 - Prepared

 Walking in the rain
Not entirely unpleasant.
(An umbrella helps).
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1543 - Dinner

 Chicken and Fennel,
Slow roasted in the oven.
Saturday dinner.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1542 - Seeking Inspiration

 The weekend painting.
I must choose a subject.
No idea yet.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1541 - A Crack(l)ing Good Night

 The fire is crackling.
There is red wine in the glass.
Cheese on a side plate.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1540 - A Salt Fix

 Roast vegetables—
A pleasant cold night dinner.
(Must have some salt, though)
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1539 - The Media

 Feigned indignation.
What's really peculiar—
People believe it.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1538 - The Three Egg Omelette

 A three egg omelette—
In a time of great worry,
A sign of great love.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

I wrote a villanelle on this here.

1547 - Fill the Available Space

 The news media—
Regardless of what happens
The same amount of news.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1546 - Not fit for purpose.

 The Opposition
Full of whingers and whiners.
Not fit to govern.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1545 - Book

 Publish an eBook!
All the ducks are lining up
Not quite, but nearly.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1544 - Feathered Mafia

 
Demanding some meat.
Impatiently, wings on hips—
Feathered mafia.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1543 - Mr Wong

 Beady yellow eyes
Looking at me through the door
Part begging part threat.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1542 - Blackout

 The power went off—
A short visit to the past:
Circadian life.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1541 - Protection Racket

 It must be Spring now—
A tapping at the window:
The Currawong's back.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1540 - Debt

 A time to reflect:
The influence of fathers.
I owe much to mine.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1539 - Father's Day

 It's Father's Day—
The Australian version
Plus bacon and eggs.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1538 - Dawn Chorus

 A magpie chortles,
Chooks are less harmonious.
Bright start to the day.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1537 - That's not what I said!

 The group Team meeting—
The pain of contributing...
And being misheard.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1536 - Changing Gears

 A few warmer days!
It's like a switch has been flipped.
Quick change of seasons.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1535 - Bring on Spring!

 And so winter goes—
Showers and a biting wind.
A chilly good-bye!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1534 - Vale Keith

 An old schoolmate dies.
The chipping away of time.
Memento mori.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1533 - Stormy Sunday

 A stormy Sunday—
A good time to prop and paint.
Solid memories.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1532 - That didn't hurt, did it?

 Giving a "thank you"—
Why is it so hard to do?
Common courtesy.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1531 - Who'd be the Premier?

Protects the people
But creates so much outrage—
Confected indignation.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1530 - Shock! Horror!

The talk-back compere—
No responsibility
Just wants the ratings.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1529 - Liberal with the lives of others.

People don't matter.
Jeff says "Lift the restrictions!"
Irresponsible.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1528 - Bored but safe

Each day looks alike.
Lockdown's lost its novelty
But it's still needed.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1527 - Things are looser at Noosa. I'm told.

It's Jacket's birthday.
He's hunkered down in Noosa—
Worse places to be.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1526 - More than 17 syllables!

 Wrote a real poem!
Quite a while since the last  one.
It's a god feeling.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1525 - Three Little Maids

 

Three Little Maids

Three little maids from school are we
You can stick your geometry
What we’ve learnt is plain to see
Three little maids from school

Everything is a source of fun
What’s done up can be undone
We have enough for everyone
Three little maids from school

Three little maids who dressed like tarts
Studies include the liberal arts
After school, the homework starts.
Three little maids from school
Three little maids from school

Three little maids who want to please,
Wear their skirts above their knees
Part to attract and part to tease.
Three little maids from school
Three little maids from school

One little maid has her shirt undone
Two little maids join in the fun
Three little maids for the price of one
Three little maids from school
Three little maids from school

Three little maids who love to play

May find themselves in the family way
Won't have to wait very long, they say
Three little maids from school
Three little maids from school
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

One of many original versions

1524 - Weekend

 A weekend survived—
Helped by family and friends.
That is all you need.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1523 - Spring, Poised.

 The days get longer—
The birds sing in my morning,
Spring is getting close.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1522 - Anniversary

 Anniversary.
It has been 39 years.
We have done so much.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1521 - Hedge

 The cypress has gone—
The light bounces of the wall
Into my study.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1520 - Life in the Garden

 Steady soaking rain.
Garden's grateful.  Snails are too.
It's been quite a while.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1519 - Shock Jocks

 Keyed up and angry—
They trade in indignation.
Don't buy into it.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1518 - Danger!

 Sarcastic comments—
The curse of the internet.
Give them a wide berth.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1517 - What? Raining?

 Some much needed rain.
It has been a dry season.
It gives us flowers.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1516 - Forget the Scurvy Dogs!

 Grandson's new insult,
Fitting for a small pirate—
"Rusty Sea Crumpet!"
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1515 - What a drip!

 A large water bill—
The hidden cost of plumbing.
Ten times the normal.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1514 - THE Virus

 Strange time to be ill.
People ask anxious questions—
Is it the virus?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1513 - Day 2 Level 4.

 Day Two Level Four.
A walk in the cold and the rain.
Grateful to get out.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1512 - Enconomies of Feather

Little bird painting.
Was accused of saving paint.
Just saving colours.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---
 

1511 - Unheard of!

 Leftover pizza.
(There really is such a thing.)
The chooks got the crust.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1510 - Thank You

An on-line message
About a long-dropped bottle
On the sea of time.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1509 - The Magic Question

You wake tomorrow–
Your problem has been resolved.
What is it you see?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1508 - Tipping Point

Who would have thought it?
Leading the Football tipping!
Cunning trumps knowledge.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1507 - Executive Order

The slow Fascist creep–
Freedoms are disappearing.
Where will it all end?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1506 - Daily Rituals

Daily rituals–
To prepare for what's ahead,
To settle the mind.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1505 - North of the Border

A job in Queensland
But too many negatives–
Had to turn it down.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1504 - Climate of Denial

La la la la la–
We hide our head in the sand.
But still it happens.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1503 - The Law of Scarcity

All of a sudden—
Bam! I am now a resource.
Retrenchments do that.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1502 - Four Stomach Brain

The mind is a cow.
It takes in the verbal chaff
And then ruminates.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1501 - Music Lessons

A midnight magpie—
Same song, over and over.
Practicing its chords.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1500 - Spoiled for choice.

What to eat tonight?
There is so much to choose from.
A first world problem.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1499 - What's three years in chook years?

Three years with the chooks.
Gave them some chocolate cake—
Will I get choc eggs?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1498 - In a fog

Mandatory masks
And the fogging  of glasses—
A sign of the times.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1497 - Too much water

Called out a plumber—
Water seeping from the ground.
Could be expensive.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1496 - Wants & Needs

Sign of happiness:
There is so much stuff to want
But I have enough.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1495 - But boring.

If all were like me
And if all did what I do—
I would be normal!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1494 - Normal(ish)

A winter weekend.
Just doing the normal things.
My kind of normal.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1493 - Exit Rat

Came to visit chooks.
Was not a good career move.
Adieu Mister Rat.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1492 - Did not connect...

Isolated life.
The electronic network
Is a lifeless thing.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1491 - Cast in Hope

I put it out there
But see nothing in return.
A pearl before swine?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1490 - Bastille Day

It is Bastille Day!
Forgot to order croissants.
Oh well, c'est la vie.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1489 - Lockdown Haircut

Secateurs and saw.
Gave the garden a haircut.
Rather severe one.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1488 - Treadmill

I am still working.
I guess it is a good thing—
Deferred freedom.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1487 - Not on the news.

Daily gratitudes.
Focus the mind on the good.
Start the day with love.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1486 - The Savannah Mind

The familiar—
It gives us inner comfort.
A blanket of...what?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1485 - Death Wish

It is full of lies.
So why do we watch the news?
Negative bias.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1484 - Masked Stranger

I now have a mask!
A sweet home-made fabric one
With pretty patterns.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1483 - Hate your work.

Talkback radio—
A machine spewing venom;
Makes money from hate.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1482 - Meek Chorus

Talkback radio.
Telling people what to think.
Confected anger.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1481 - But wait, there's more.

Another week in —
The COVID 19 era.
Where is the exit?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1480 - Unnecessary Sarcasm

A spiky response.
The question was vanilla
But filtered through stress.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1479 - Bugger!

COVID cases up.
The government had to act.
Back into lockdown.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1478 - Mille Feuille Lasagne

The third son's birthday.
Made his favourite pasta.
It's a tradition.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1477 - Solar Keratosis

Liquid nitrogen—
Zapping the odd skin thingo.
Too much sun when young.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1476 - Check your facts!

"We demand to know
Why your results don't match up!"

◊

They're not our results.

    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1475 - July Fourth

The Fourth of July.
Watch the stage show "Hamilton";
Cornbread & Pulled Pork.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1474 - Doesn't seem right!

At work on Friday!
This is most unusual
In these COVID times.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1472 - Welsh Puttanesca

Annual dinner—
Need something fitting:
Harlot's spaghetti.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1473 - Being rubbed the right way.

Relaxing massage.
It's a sensual reward
For past rough treatment.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1471 - Not me, thankfully.

HR double speak—
A "Career Transition",
Seven jobs to go.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1470 - The ATO is watching...

Financial Year end.
Time to balance the books.
Non-fiction is best.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1469 - Cold but not crunchy.

A 'frosty' morning.
In temperature only.
No frost to speak of.

---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1468 - Expensive hobby

Another painting.
The lockdown is productive!
Need another wall.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1467 - Adobo

Filipino: fish
With soy sauce and vinegar.
It's called adobo.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1466 - BYO Cheese & Wine

A trivia night–
It's an on-line affair.
So must self-cater.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1465 - In a flash.

He's our first born son.
It's his birthday today.
Where did that time go?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1464 - With Sauce.

A dentist visit–
How to celebrate after?
I had a meat pie.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1463 - Or breaking down.

A dentist visit–
Repairing a broken tooth.
I am cracking up.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1462 - An anniversary, of sorts.

A visit to work!
I hope they remember me.
It's 100 days.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1461 - The Persians Knew

When the Gods mock you
A jelly will break your tooth.
Marzipan will too.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1460 - Not really United.

A fake universe—
Reflex reciprocation.
False relationships.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1459 - The crumpet, not Granny

Crumpets for breakfast!
Memories of Granny—
Cut into sixes.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1458 - Cycles

The year's shortest day.
Things just get lighter from here.
The cycle of life.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1457 - Henpecked

Hens peck each other.
Aggressive little bitches.
[Can hens be a bitch?]
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1456 - Afternoon tea, with grace.

An afternoon tea—
Much food and conversation.
No little black clouds.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1455 - Daniel Schmachtenberger

Lots of new ideas.
Or ideas new to me.
My brain exploded.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1456 - Knife-edge

We are not at war.
This is no small matter
Nor a certainty.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1455 - So much cake!

A group of birthdays—
Some are from the distant past,
Others are here, now.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1454 - Leftovers

Leftovers are great—
They make the best sandwiches.
Never two the same.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1453 - Hello? Operator?

Phones are not working—
Using the lowest tender.
Will we never learn?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1452 - Simple Pleasures

Off for a massage!
The first one since the lock down.
Sensual escape.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1451 - What did I expect?

It's ultra urgent!
Drop everything - get it done!
But there's no "Thank You".
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1450 - The Second You

The embracing close—
Somewhat ambiguous.
"Was it me?" she asked.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1449 - Embracing All

The Eric Pearce close—
"Goodnight to you. And to you."
Embraces them all.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1448 - Don't Blow On The Cake

Happy Birthday Queen!
Did you wear old tracky dacks
And eat some pizza?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1447 - So so.

Another painting.
While not entirely happy
That is natural.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1446 - Hens

The chooks seem happy—
Their feather are still intact,
No disagreements.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1445 - Cognitive Shortcuts

Discussions are fraught—
The confirmation bias,
Denied but present.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1444 - Get me out of here!

The world has gone mad-
Riots, viruses, mayhem.
How can I escape?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1443 - What? Really?

Some shoes for a dog!
To keep its paws from the mud.
Has the world gone mad?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1442 - Cackle!

It's a two egg day!
(After some days of nothing.)
Holding out on me.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1441 - Mildly Miffed

OK, so it's winter.
Does it have to be so cold?
Why not a mild one?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1440 - Small Gratitude

Start the day grateful?
Think on the positive side!
It's raining.  Outside.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1439 - Time well spent.

A lockdown painting—
Proof of a weekend well spent;
Useful souvenir.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

Prior to all this COVID stuff I started a project

to chronicle my year with daily senryu's.

Recently I have been told to take a day's leave every week.

Needed to do something to make the 'lost' time productive.

Other lockdown paintings here

1438 - Eggs, not the hens.

The hens don't lay now.
No eggs from them for a while.
Just ate the last two.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1437 - Winter

The days are quite short:
Cold, crisp but mostly sunny.
Winter is just about here.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1436 - Not pushing their weight.

Fewer & fewer.
The chooks enter henopause:
The retirement home.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1435 - Not bad.

Eat, drink, be merry.
For all the problems we have—
Life is pretty good.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1434 - No slave to duty.

Not my family.
I'll sit over here and read.
You can talk to them.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1433 - The Glums

A family lunch.
Time to forget and enjoy.
Determined not to.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1432 - Woe, woe, a thousand times woe.

Sullen, self imposed.
Wallowing in a pity,
Thickly, as in pitch.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1431 - Black Clouds.

Why so dull and glum?
You have come to visit us,
You could enjoy it.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1430 - Socially Distant Lunch

A post-lockdown lunch!
Suitably distanced, of course.
Bowing has returned.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1429 - Storms

Heavy midnight storms.
Thunder, lightning and rain.
Heavy, heavy, rain.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1428 - Somewhat magical

It's that day again—
The day I check the account
And money appears.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1427 - Alone together

It is a strange thing—
Living in isolation;
Alone with others.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1426 - Sunny Days

Crisp and sunny days
Towards the end of autumn,
Before the rains come.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1425 - The Watcher

A play in the park—
Breaking out after lockdown.
Death sits and watches.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1424 - Noisy Chooks

I can hear the hens—
They get up just on the dawn.
Plaintive calls for scraps.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1423 - Memories

Anniversaries.
They contain mixed emotions
When you are alone.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1422 - Enforced Love

Friday Holiday—
A gift from the company
But at my expense.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1421 - Drowning or Waving?

The lockdown is loose—
Will the dam break and flood us?
Or just need mopping?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1420 - Golden Advice.

It is not what happens—
Your response is everything.
Say little.  Or less.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1419 - Hump Day

It is now Wednesday.
It used to be called hump day.
Four day weeks killed that.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1418 - Leftovers

The breakfast du jour—
Some leftover coq au vin.
Not the normal thing.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1417 - Whoosh!

The year whistles by—
The shortest day is next month;
Not that I am counting.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1416 - The Pear & Caramel Pudding Did It.

Mother's Day weekend.
Bathroom scales tell the story.
Back on the diet.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1415 - Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day!
Some are close, others not so—
Much love to them all.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1414 - Me, probably

I have a long list
Of things to do this weekend.
What will be undone?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1413 - Crunchy

A sandwich toaster.
Reheats leftover pizza—
A crunchy breakfast.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1412 - Trivia on trivia

I don't watch TV.
Had no chance in the pop quiz.
I'm OK with that.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1411 - Trivia

On-line trivia.
Normally a dinner-do,
Not the same, sadly.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1410 - Breakfast

Fried Dace & Black Bean,
Served on a bowl of brown rice.
A tasty Breakfast.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1409 - Clunk!

Wearing a face mask,
More of a plastic shield.
Hard to drink coffee.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1408 - Variety

Crunchy cornichons!
Add taste and texture to food.
Spice of life, they say.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1407 - Peer Review

An on-line study—
Scientific articles,
slice, dice and dissect.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1406 - These are not the senryu you are looking for...

It's Star Wars Day!
May the Fourth be with you, Luke!
Now, on with you life.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1405 - Down Side

The curve may have peaked!
Don't be overconfident—
It's, at best, half way.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1404 - Treat time

A potato cake!
Used to be a haircut treat—
Where's the barber now?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1403 - He's got a little list.

It's the weekend.
What can I do with myself?
Well, I have a list.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1402 - Not mayday. May Day.

It's the first of May!
I feel I should celebrate
But not sure how.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1401 - Time Passes

Another month gone.
What have I to show for it?
A few senryus.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1400 - The Mundane

Fix the chook feeder.
Just one of the many tasks.
Enjoy the mundane.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1399 - Mung Friends

Bean sprout omelette.
During the present lockdown:
A signature meal.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1398 - Black & Brown

The morning coffee—
Starts the day off quite nicely:
Black with brown sugar.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1397 - Amorphous

They merge together,
These days in isolation.
They all seem alike.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1396 - Dead Wrong

Inject chemicals.
Doctors have a word for it—
It's called embalming.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1395 - More Simple Pleasures

Pruning, gardening,
Cooking, writing and painting—
In a private world.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1394 - Simple Pleasures

A home-made pastie
With lots of tomato sauce—
A simple dinner.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1393 - ANZAC Tradition

A "Gunfire Breakfast"—
Coffee with a dash of rum.
Ratios vary.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1392 - Lest We Forget

A driveway service—
Not the normal sort of thing
But the thought is there.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1391 - Take the money and run...nowhere.

I still have a job
And the money goes in the bank—
That is good enough.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1390 - Four Day Week

Holiday weekend!
They all are at the moment—
Friday is cancelled.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1389 - Hen Pecked

Lost her tail feathers!
Couldn't do it by herself—
Bullying old chook.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1388 - Control

The body is weak—
Meets accidents, illness, gaol.
The mind's ours alone.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1387 - Menu Blues

What to cook tonight?
So many 'tastes' to cater—
A first world problem.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

Footnote: Made a potato curry.

1386 - The Virtual Boss

The weekly catch-up.
I see him more in lock-down
Than I ever did.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1385 - The Lady and the Unicorn.

I've a square to paint!
Part of a bigger picture.
Everything is.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

130 of us have been given a square to paint and then they

will be assembled into a mural.

1384 - It is a worry

Dizzy spells again.
Not sure what is causing them—
It is a worry.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1383 - Pick up the phone!

Working from my home.
Just email correspondence—
Misunderstandings.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1382 - Blocked Corridor

Back to work today!
I hope the traffic improves.
Can't get any worse.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1381 - Painting

A little painting—
Proof of a weekend well spent.
When isolated.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1380 - A Cut Above.

A home done haircut!
My hairdresser did quite well—
I don't look homeless.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1379 - A very real Phantom.

A free performance:
Phantom of the Opera
At Royal Albert Hall.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1378 - Attitude

No-one can hurt you.
You must choose to be hurt.
Why would you do that?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1377 - Generosity

Poached eggs for breakfast.
Cooked with vinegar and salt —
A gift from the chooks.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1376 - The Front Verandah, perhaps?

I'm on holidays!
Not strictly voluntary.
Where shall I go to?

    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1375 - Frittata

Ad-hoc frittata.
Throw in whatever you have.
Cannot repeat it.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1374 - Flu

I was a good boy—
Had the annual flu shot.
Hope I don't need it.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1373 - Aflutter

Midnight heart flutters.
I wish she wouldn't do that.
The spray calmed it down.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1372 - What goes up...

"He has arisen!"
I thought they referred to Christ
And not to my weight.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1371 - Cross

The scales are lying!
Fruit buns are calorie free—
Or so I was told.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1370 - Tart Tartine

A taste sensation:
A red onion tart tartine.
Keep that recipe!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1369 - Post-Easter

Post-Easter routine—
Stay at home then work at home.
Did I ever leave?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1368 - Chocolate

Easter long weekend.
Chocolate.  More chocolate.
Glad it's once a year.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1367 - Neighbours

Easter pleasantness.
Encountered neighbourly acts
Despite the distance.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1366 - Virtual Congregations

The Easter Weekend—
It's a time for gathering.
But not this year.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1365 - Hot Cross Buns

The days in the shops:
One hundred and eleven.
First one just eaten.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1364 - Heirloom Peas

Yellow-podded peas—
From an Indian market(?).
Wait to see if true.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1363 - Huh? I don't remember that!

I don't remember.
So much has happened to me—
I forget it all.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1362 - Stay Home!

The chaos continues—
Not getting any better.
There are 'bads' out there.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1361 - Suke Aloo

Potato curry
Served with homemade yoghurt.
It's comfort food.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1360 - Faux Friday

It's a Wednesday,
But really it is a Friday
Due to holidays.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1359 - Night Wolves Beyond the Light

Beyond the campfire,
She hovers there in the dark—
What is she up to?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1358 - Grey Day, not Grade A.

A dull sort of day.
Overcast but with no rain.
Just a grey feeling.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1357 - Replenish

Replenish supplies.
A bottle of Campari—
Essence of grapefruit?

◊

Replenish supplies.
A bag of chicken pellets_
Fair exchange for eggs.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1356 - Normality

The change came quickly.
Living in isolation—
It's the new normal.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1355 - Snapped

The sooky princess.
Caught on her son's camera,
Running up the stairs.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1354 - Storage

In times of crisis—
The best place to store your grain:
Your neighbour's belly.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1353 - Winter

Winter approaches.
It's a cold, blustery day.
Good for indoor work.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1352 - Culture

I made some yoghurt.
(Milk is not in short supply).
Culture in my life.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1351 - Weekend

The weekend has come.
Much the same as the weekdays.
Interesting times.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1350 - Piped Music

Ravel's Balero—
In a strange kind of fashion.
Bagpipes a surprise.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1349 - Water Music

Music with headphones—
Your brain is flooded with sound.
Immersion therapy.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1348 - Breaking Day

Listening to the house.
Having a quiet breakfast.
Tinned fish and dukkah.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1347 - Winter

It is still dark outside.
The winter is approaching.
Time for more log fires.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1346 - Stove Top Vesuvius

The morning coffee—
An Italian blessing:
Taken sweet and black.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1345 - Navel Gazing

A day off from work
(Not truly voluntary)
A time to ponder.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1344 - At Sea

It comes in great waves—
The grief washes over you,
The rough surf of life.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1343 - Card Game

Fate deals us a hand.
The cards we get are random,
How we play them counts.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1342 - eLunch

A video lunch—
It is a poor substitute
But the best we have.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1341 - Ha Ha Gotcha!

It's April Fools Day!
Life around us is changing—
Tell me it's a joke!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1340 - Memento mori

Memento mori—
It will happen to us all,
There is no escape.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1339 - Trapped

While some have escaped,
Escaped from the honey trap,
Some not so lucky.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1338 - Two of a Kind

Two peas in a pod?
More a couple of lupins:
Toxic alkaloids.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1337 - A Lucky Escape

The desire to hurt—
Not an endearing quality
In a young lady

◊

In anybody.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1336 - Week Three

Week 3 in lock down.
Lock down?  Lock up? Much the same.
There's no end in sight.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1335 - Green Investment

Revamped the garden.
Put in seedlings for winter.
Think we may need them.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1334 - Sadly so

Spitting the dummy.
Something that only babies do.
Attitude not age.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1333 - Curious

"No offence is meant".
So then, what is the intent?
Why would you do it?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1332 - Cake!

A birthday cheesecake!
The diet starts tomorrow.
Or the day after.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1331 - Budget

These are troubled times.
The next thing that I must do—
Review the budget.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1330 - Tradition.

Some bacon and eggs!
It's a birthday tradition.
That, and Father's Day.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1329 - Sarong

Wearing a sarong—
The last time for this summer.
Pack it away now.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1328 - Now, a cigar.

Thank God it's Friday!
It's been quite an odd week.
More of them to come.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1327 - No cigar.

Thank God it's Friday!
It's been quite an odd week.
Oh. Wait. It's Thursday!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1326 - Mass Entertainment

A sign of the times:
The local Catholic church
Live-streaming the mass.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1325 - Exponential

Exponential curves.
Things continue to worsen.
Where will it all end?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1324 - The Lurker

The day is sunny.
What dangers can be out there,
Unseen but waiting?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1323 - What's normal?

Normal sort of day
In abnormal sort of times.
Tomorrow?  Who knows.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1322 - Strange Times

Second week at home.
Technology put to use—
Off-site and on-line.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1321 - Warmed Twice

Stacking the firewood:
To see us through winter.
Warm now, warm later.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1320 - Social(ish)

Neighbours for dinner.
Pleasant meal and discussion.
Kept social distance.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1319 - WhatsApp Doc?

Mighty dummy spit.
Discussion not going well—
Stormed off in a huff.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

Happily, I was just an innocent bystander.

1318 - Whack!

Wretched cabbage moths!
I have found their nemesis:
Badminton rackets.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1317 - The Chips Are Down

Oven chips and wine.
An end of the week reward.
Nothing else matters.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1316 - Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!

After the panic—
Comes complacency.
There lies the danger.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1315 - Whats the truth?

Media misleads!
Pictures of empty venues...
But the roads are packed.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1314 - Another World

Has the world gone mad?
It is completely surreal
In the home office.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1313 - Swings and Roundabouts

Meat prices have soared
But shops have toilet paper.
Somewhat mixed blessings.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1312 - Civility

Debates on WhatsApp;
People on their high horses.
Manners disappear.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1311 - And a little red wine.

A fresh pesto sauce
And some fresh homemade pasta—
Lingering summer.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1310 - Press 1 if...

Hanging on the phone—
Endless plinky-plunk music
And going nowhere.

◊

"Thank you for holding—
Currently third in the queue"
Have been for a while.

    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1309 - A Walk in the Perk

The sun is shining.
It's a great day for a walk.
"Working from home" perk.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1308 - The Gift of the Dunny

The second coming!
Not gold frankincense and myrrh—
Take him toilet rolls.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1307 - Gone

No flour and no bread.
Gluten allergies gone too.
This is serious.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1306 - Braced

Peanut butter toast,
A small, strong, sweet, black coffee,
Ready for the day.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1305 - Apocalypse II

The end of the world?
I've found how to enjoy it—
Port and a log fire.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1304 - Apocalypse I

The end of the world?
Has the apocalypse come?
The shoppers think so.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1303 - On a roll?

Has the world gone mad?
Share market is going down
Toilet paper up.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---
 

1302 - England & Ireland

Putative Leader­­—
His address to the nation
Protects his golf links.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---
 

1301 - Oh Crap! No Toilet Paper

The only topic—
Everyone is talking,
You can sense the fear.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1300 - Bugs 1, Protestors Nil

Cancel the Grande Prix!
Twenty years of the protests
Had failed to do that.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1299 - Lunch

Potato salad
With a vinaigrette dressing
I can live on that!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1298 - Chinese Noodle Harvest

Sweet but so naive!
Believes everything I say.
How long will that last?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1297 - Vale Caz, 2006.

Fourteen years ago:
A genetic malfunction.
Pepsi stocks declined.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1296 - A migraine, of sorts.

Visual migraine—
A really weird sort of beast,
An uncommon one.

◊

The world is fractured,
Light rings circle in your eye,
No headache at all.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1295 - Sandwich

Fresh bread and butter,
Hot salami, tomato,
Some salt and pepper.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1294 - How quickly they forget.

A nice, long weekend.
Return to work tomorrow—
What was my password?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1293- Word of the Day

Callipygious—
Having beautiful buttocks!
Now...when to use it?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1292 - Exchange Rate

Poached eggs for breakfast,
A present from the chickens—
In return for scraps.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1291 - Peace

Sitting here, quiet.
Alone but far from lonely.
Just the clock ticking.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1290 - Pasta

Home-made spaghetti—
One of the joys of summer.

Fresh tomato sauce.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1289 - Labor Day Weekend

It's a long weekend—
A long list of things to do.
Dinner with a friend.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1288 - Rain

I started the year with the goal of writing a senryu each day 

about something that caught my fancy.
I never promised to post it every day, 

so they come in flurries.

Gentle steady rain
No floods, no leaks, no problems,
The tanks are full.

Gentle steady rain
The drivers have forgotten—
Traffic moves slowly.


Gentle steady rain
It's soaking into the ground,
The garden says "thanks".
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1287 - Toilet roll panic

Corona virus—
Everyone goes feral...
Should that be faecal?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1286 - Or off?

A Penny Farthing!
Certainly a skillful thing—
How do they get on?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

Yes, saw someone riding a penny farthing bicycle.

1285 - A Reasoned Response.

Confabulation.
Justifying your actions—
After the event.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1284 - Once more...

Another Monday!
The same thing happened last week-
Is there a pattern?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1284 - Just like Beijing...

Chinese Restaurant.
The only westerners there.
Cheap form of travel.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1283 - Dark matter collides with grey matter.

Astronomy talk—
It is all so amazing...
But makes my head hurt.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1282 - Booked

I have lots of books.
Just built two new bookcases.
So can buy more books.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1281 - Point of Order...

Corporate meetings-
Where you stop doing your work...
To be given more.

Self-important folk
Haggling over minor points-
Boring as all..um...

So why am I here?
Another meeting next month.
Perhaps ring in sick...
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1280 - Lab Tests

Annual blood test.
Apparently I'm normal—
Whatever that means.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1279 - Open Wider

Dental appointment.
Mouth full of hands and scrap iron.
No conversation.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1278 - Hello? Operator?

A new phone system!
No-one knows how to use it—
What could be better?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1277 - Heel and Toe.

A country bush dance.
Not a bone in my body
Wants to be out there.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1276 - Over Seasoned

Setting the log fire.
It seems to be quite strange—
It is still summer.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1275 - Memories

My dad's bread.
The power of taste and smell—
Brings back memories.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1274 - Bread shop

The local bread shop.
Young girl behind the counter—
Red hair and freckles.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1273 - Immature

Our CEO mocks.
Is he socially inept?
Or just ignorant?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1272 - Why do fasts go slowly?

The fasting blood test:
No breakfast and no coffee!
I guess it's worth it.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1271 - Waiting

Doctor's surgeries.
Places of concern and hope.
Anxious expressions.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1270 - Rain

True, we needed rain.
More than average is good—
But why all at once?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1269 - Training

Training competency—
Wind them up and set them free!
Duracell bunnies.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1268 - No Agenda?

Impromptu meeting—
No idea what to expect.
So, what could go wrong?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1267 - Zig Zag

Zig-zagging drivers,
In and out of traffic.
Must win at all costs.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1266 - Cut Grass

The smell of cut grass.
It makes me think of one thing—
A post-cutting beer.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1265 - Meat Puppets

We are meat puppets
Others will pull at your strings:
Dance to your own tune.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1264 - Pigeons

Why are there pigeons?
A reasonable question:
Scatterbrained critturs.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1263 - Coffee

The second coffee.
It's no match for the first
But you taste it more.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1262 - Drizzle

    .
A day of drizzle
A damp blanket on the plants.
The grass goes berserk.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1261 - What? No smoking jacket?

An old tradition— **
Stilton, port and some walnuts.
Cliched but yummy.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

** Is there any other kind?

1260 - Rain, damn you!

Thunder and lightning.
Not much rain to show for it.
All bark and no bite.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1259 - Things that platter

A mixed cheese platter,
There’s some wine to go with it.
Life is pretty good.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1258 - Hide & Seek

Looking for my Self.
Have not managed to find it.
Perhaps it’s not there.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1257 - Valentine

St Valentines Day!

A higher significance—

It’s the half year mark.

    .

---

© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery

---

(Coincidentally, it's our half-anniversary.)

1256 - Things that go pop!

Balloons have their place—
Parties, fairs and sausage dogs,
Not aneurisms.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1255 - Improved with age.

Eating leftovers.
There is something about them—
They taste really good.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1254 - Pass the blotter.

An old fountain pen!
The lost are of handwriting—
A little wobbly.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1253 - Button pushing.

Pushing hot buttons.
Seeing how far they can go.
A common pastime.

◊

A great place to start:
The family gathering.
And not just Xmas.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1252 - Crossed off.

The "things to do" list.
Always seems to increase.
Removals are great!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1251 - Advance payment.

Anticipation.
Events being pre-worried—
But didn't happen.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1250 - Retreat to the study.

Two Grannies boasting:
"That's nothing, mine did this!"
Best to sit elsewhere.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1249 - Haircut

Time for a haircut.
Can you make me beautiful?
No.  But it feels good.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1248 - Hello?

Seldom in the loop,
Usually the last to know.
Just a fringe dweller.

◊

No-one says ‘hello’…
Am I invisible now?
Perhaps I have died.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1247 - Once more.

Planning of my day—
Pretty much like yesterday.
That's not a bad thing.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1246 - Birthday Blues

Sick on her birthday!
Painkillers as a present.
How unfair is that?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1245 - Plans, sort of.

The start of the day—
I had all the best laid plans.
Gods spat in my soup.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1244 - Da-da da-da da...

The call is on hold,
And on hold, and…still on hold.
Plinky plunk music.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1243 - Free Lunch

A free pizza lunch!
Largesse with a crispy crust.
The sandwich will keep.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1242 - Princess

She's the favoured one.
He just tags along behind—
Even though he's older.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1241 - Sleepover

Her first sleepover.
Adults do somersaults.
Absolute control.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1240 - Weekend

The weekend arrives.
Different to the weekdays
But not greatly so.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1239 - Harsh

Harsh words, said roughly.
Don't agree with the content
But hard to let go.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1238 - Old School

Mr Fred Rogers—

A beautiful neighbourhood,

Old Rabbit recalled.

    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1237 - Canvas

Tattoos like carpet.

Are they just inked to impress?

Or a personal thing?

    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1236 - Eyes

Dilate pupils,
An eye examination.
Forgot sunglasses.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1235 - Tea, but not.

Cocoa with chilli,
Liquorice and some spices—
Herbal tea with bite.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1234 - Colour me limp

Forty Three degrees!
Hot, oppressive and humid.
Is this the new norm?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1233 - Resolution

The clock is ticking.
I am given a new day,
I will be present.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1232 - Waiting

A bedside vigil.
The last sands trickle away,
Watched over with love.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1231 - Pointless

A peakhour gridlock.
You can toot al that you like,
Nothing is moving.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1230 - Not over yet.

Another hot day.
Summer is not over yet.
Firemen sleep lightly.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1229 - Rats!

Back to work today.
It has been a long weekend—
What was my password?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1228 - Massage

The feeling of hands
Sliding along your body—
A primal pleasure.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1227 - In the Bush

The highway driving.
It's quick, non-stop and direct
But you see nothing.

◊

Dim Sims in the park.
I sat there and ate all three;
The ducks weren't happy.

◊

Visiting the bush,
Herding sheep on country roads,
Not my normal thing.

◊

Discussing ideas
And asking probing questions.
The joy of friendship.

◊

The country salad,
Australian Woman's Weekly,
Circa '65.

◊

The paddocks are dry.
Carting hay to feed the sheep.
Summer is not done.

◊

A birthday party
Many people I don't know—
Friends by the night's end.

◊

It's good to be home.
It's a comfortable place,
The familiar.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1226 - Backlog

I have a back-log.  

Writing's quicker than posting.  

My apologies.

◊

Mindfulness & beer;
Sitting in the gazebo.
Thunder & lightning.

◊

The gods are angry.
Or their tummy's rumbling.
Maybe the same thing.

◊

Thunder is just fine.
It's very theatrical.
Some rain would be good.

◊

Quite a grey morning.
How much is smoke, I wonder.
Does anyone care?

◊

Just twenty minutes
And the NBN's installed.
What was all the fuss?
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1225 - But Not Guaranteed

Leisurely breakfast
Planning a relaxing day—
Rain is predicted.
    .---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1224 - Idle Thoughts VIII

The meal of summer:
Fresh pasta with pesto sauce.
And a glass of wine.

◊

Excuse me, Boss man,
Why do you not talk to me?
I don’t bite, you know!
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1223 - Be careful what you wish for.

Thank God it’s Friday!
One day closer to Monday

...and closer to death.

◊

Enjoy what you have.
There is only the present.
Make the most of it.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1222 - I follow

Social media.
People come and people go,
It's not personal.
    .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1221 - Lunch

A lunch with a son,
It’s a quarterly catch-up:
Steak, salad and chips.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1220 - Thoughts in the Car

A smokey city—
Climate denialists' gift
To the asthmatics.

◊

A pedestrian:
Clearly not wearing a bra.
Very generous.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1219 - Idle Thoughts VII

It's hot and sticky
And just half way though summer—
Well, one lives in hope.

◊

The polls are not good,
But have no fear for next time—
Greed will win again.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1218 - Sunday Ponderings

Ignorance is bliss?
Are you kidding me?
Why aren't you smiling?

◊

Confabulation—
The rewriting of stories
To fit the facts.

◊

What am I to do?
Existential confusion—
To fly or to fight?
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1217 - Idle Thoughts VI

Yes, you are pretty.
You may be beautiful too
But I don't know you yet.

◊

Seventy Seven Years.
You have earned your retirement
And a good farewell
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1216 - Meanwhile, back at the office...

Rude and small minded.
He is probably lonely­
But that is no excuse.

◊

"You've had a haircut!
And you hair is much shorter!"
Yes, that's what happens.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1215 - Clean Slate

It's another day,
Yesterday is no longer.
Tabula rasa.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1214 - Idle Thoughts V

Idle Thoughts V

The world’s gone crazy.
There are loonies everywhere.
What does it all mean?

◊

Party pies and sauce,
Celebratory lunches.
Living the good life.

◊

That little word "But..."
Everything prior is lost.
The great negator.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1213 - Idle Thoughts IV

Idle Thoughts IV

“Good Morning Young Man!”
Fifteen years younger than me.
Lacks maturity.

◊

Speaking in Chinese;
I wonder what they are saying?
It’s all Greek to me.

◊

Bloody computer!
Blue doughnut of impatience
Is laughing at me.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1212 - I Don't Follow

I Don't Follow.

An "influencer"—
Photographing her dinner.
It's a strange world.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

Last night, sat beside an Instagraming lady, 

fed to encourage her flock to follow her example.

1211 - Deceptive Traits

Unmelted Butter

She's little Miss Prim!
But don't let that mislead you—
There's a scamp inside.

◊

Heuristics

Selective experts—
They can help support your case,
Except climate change.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---

1210 - Idle Thoughts III

Count to Ten

It’s a new decade!
Not everyone agrees‑
But they never do.

◊

Persian Princess

It’s all self, self, self.
Everything is a drama,
It cannot end well.
     .
---
© 2020 J Cosmo Newbery
---