I thought after this last unusual month of November weather and sights, it was time to move on from the often-quoted poem ‘NO!’ about this month on page 44 of Thomas Hood’s Complete edition of Comic poems, written in 1844. Although he was clearly a poet of immense wit, and prodigious output, despite chronic ill-health.

So I scribbled some words this morning, on the last day of the month, and chose a few images from many taken in November 2024 to accompany it.

November!

Remember, remember this embered November

One year in a hundred – two zero, two four.

Forget Guido’s plotting, move on from Hood’s rhymes;

Those smog-driven negatives, oft-quoted lives.

Low-slanting gold sunshine, transforms all it strikes.

Abscissing, alchemical leaves glow gold-bright.

An overhead kite, rust and cream, carves the blue,

In cloud-free tight circles; such rich vibrant hues.

Dark bees are still working, pink roses still bloom.

Bold colours surround, persevere, past Bert’s gloom.

Bright ’Early Sensations’ have records replaced,

Whilst ‘Cambridge’ and ‘Jamie’, long gone, are effaced.

‘Prelude’, ‘Colossus’, ‘Mrs. Mac’ and fair ‘Bess’

Emerge overnight, with a last-day finesse.

Real winter awaits, dark December may test.

Shadows will lengthen, urban lovers can rest.

November lifts spirits, brings hope, raises smiles.

If only it burned more than once in a while!

30/11/2024