Tuesday, October 21, 2025

 1400

The lesson is well formed

The students are all keen

But through the window, far away,

The ocean's silver gleam

Draws me to its silence

Sirens me to dream

Of life beyond the classroom

Beyond the wine dark sea.


Brian Hick September 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 21.10.25

Friday, October 17, 2025

 1399

Now that I'm free to choose and you're

No longer ham-strung by my stubborn, crass,

And often childish whims, perhaps we can

Begin to make some sense of what we're doing.

It seems some people don't appreciate

Our offer to speak out, so we must find

The smaller groups, lunch clubs, U3As,

Men's Breakfasts, Ladies Literary Teas,

Anywhere they'll listen, and at least

We'll get to talk to somebody who cares.

But is this enough when I can see

There's so much more, out there, to be done?

             Inspire me with a hope that what I do

             Will make a difference, in the end, for you.


Brian Hick September 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 17.10.25

Possibly a time when Brian had resigned from the Unitarian church and put his efforts into raising money and support for the homeless.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

 1398

Last night I sat outside on the bay

But tonight's too chilly, so I'll stay

Inside, knowing I will have to wait

At least six months before the winds abate.


             He asked me what we saw at Garsington.

                        I knew exactly what we ate

                                           But

                       What we saw? Who knows?


Brian Hick September 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 15.10.25

Monday, October 13, 2025

 1397

Two young families

Eating pizza by the bay;

A joy to behold.


Brian Hick September 2014 Cardiff

©copyright Sally Hick 13.10.25


Why is Cardiff Bay

   A magnet for

   Fat women?


Brian Hick September 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 13.10.25

Friday, October 10, 2025

 1396

I know, and do not worry how I know,

That love outlasts, out shines outflanks them all.

Regardless of the cataracts that fall

Upon us and the world's demonic glow,


Love survives, love overcomes, love grows,

Love bumbles on, love sticks around, love grafts,

Love undermines all wickedness, love laughs,

Love waits until the rest have failed, love knows;


There's nothing that outlasts love's patient joy -

Knowing that eternity is real -

No power on earth has power enough to steal

The truth that love itself is never coy


Faced with barbarity, insult and shame

Love smiles, and looks all evil in the eye

Knowing that true love can never die

For love is ready to accept the blame.


Brian Hick September 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 10.10.25


Wednesday, October 8, 2025

 1395

Cardiff Bay - 12 Sept 14


I'm glad there is no camera on my phone

Or I'd be sending you an endless steam

Of photos which, though beautiful, will mean

Nothing, when you see them at home,


For tiny pictures on a tiny screen,

Glanced at while you're doing something else,

Cannot hint at all the depth, the wealth,

The detail and the splendour I have seen


Mid-September - and the autumn leaves

Should by now be falling - yet today

I'm basking as we did at Bembridge Quay

Six weeks ago, when we all believed


It would not last; yet it seems there was no haste

For here I am, sitting in the sun

When, in other years the storms have run

Amok, turning once golden leaves to waste.


If only for today let me delight

In unexpected brightness; even as I know

That brazen autumn and the winter snow

Lurk close at hand to snatch away the light.


Brian Hick 12.9.14

©copyright Sally Hick 8.10.25

Monday, October 6, 2025

 1393

31 August 2014


Last day of August and the garden rests

Before the autumn dulls the few sweet peas

And pansies that remain to help recall

Day after day of basking in the sun -

Lapped by the waves from early morn till dusk - 

Retiring to the terrace for a lunch

Free from the burning heat out on the sands.


Now distant bird calls or a burst of squirrels

Playing tag over the garden gate

Alone break up the silence of the hours

Begore an early sunset brings a close

To gentle days for cats who sit and doze.


Brian Hick 31.8.2014

©copyright Sally Hick 6.8.25

Friday, October 3, 2025

 1392

I am Mr Tumble;

The photos do not lie.

The summer sawn-off trousers,

Short socks and red plimsolls,

Straw hat from the garden show,

Shirt, without a tie.

I am Mr Tumble.


If only it were true;

To smile at all times,

Turn the worst events

Into a laugh, for all to share.

No confrontation, violence,

No sense of us and them;

Just a shared experience

Of joy, whatever happens,

Of happiness today.

Even when the odds are stacked

The outcome seeming dire,

Your optimism will outlast

And go the extra mile.


I am Mr Tumble?

The photos do not lie?

If only new umbrellas

And old clothes

Were all it took

To make the sun shine

Every day.


Brian Hick August 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 3.10.25

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

 1391

I love you, and that's all you need to know,

The trouble is you'd rather not believe

It's that easy, that there are no rules,

No footnotes or appendices to grieve

Or block this quiet gift from me to you.

No matter what you think or how you act,

No matter what you did or thought to do -

No matter that your intellect is wracked

By doubts, confusions and endless attacks -

They'll come to nothing when enraptured by

A love far greater than created time,

Enduring even though your body die;

For unconditional is what I said

Know you are loved and do not question why.


Brian Hick August 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 1.10.25