March 2025 poems

Some poems of reflection & hope

1. Ants (Inspired by ‘The Meditations’)

We’re so small, you and I

To an eagle in the air.

Everyone is an ant from an aerial view.

Each one of us insignificant.

We bear a load above our heads.

Dwarfing our sorry statures.

Keeping the colonies moving.

Shouldering weights for the rest of the army.

If one train meets another

Routes are diverted far and wide

Or blockages form.

Nothing works seized up.

An army must move together

Become one soul.

Carrying cargo beyond its size

But barely visible when viewed from above.

2. Small Happinesses

   ( ‘Sohwakhaeng’ - inspired by the article by Julian de Medeiros)

Did you know

In South Korea

They have a word for this?

Sohwakhaeng

When you listen to Bob Marley

With your baby

And he’s smiling ?

Sohwakhaeng for two.

When you massage oil

Around his belly

As he kicks his feet and giggles:

That’s Sohwakhaeng too.

Meeting with a friend

You’ve dreamed of

Now you’re with them?

Sohwakhaeng’s with you.

Bridget Jones in the cinema

Laughing with your mum

Who’s 81 this year?

That’s Sohwakhaeng there too.

Lying in bed together.

Reading books you love.

Alone but not alone:

Sohwakhaeng all through.

These tiny little moments

Perfect balls of happiness

Appearing out of nowhere

Incredibly for you.