17th September 2026 • The HERALD • Page 85 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v Poets Corner Lost Days Sublime by David K Wilson© Heatwaves by Isobel Smith© Now this is a “stay indoors” summer 3 heatwaves – so far – is too much My Viking blood feels it’s a bummer And my steering wheel’s too hot to touch I’m really not used to a heatwave As I come from quite far up the road Where all winter we’re brain washed to “heat save” One more cardy could lighten that load Now summer up north is a gamble One summer dress lasts you for years e fellas in kilts cease to ramble As the heat up their pleats brings on tears So cheers then to all you “sun lovers” Rumour has it you’ve got it for years On my steering wheel – load on the covers As my bikini from moth balls appears! Do you remember those ration book days? Mother would speak of hard times and hard ways Dandelion co ee was lovely some say But it didn’t last long When the war went away Homes without fridges or washing machines Water and washboards would get the clothes clean Chapped swollen ngers always there winter days Or for weeks sometimes months Before going away No electrical points just an iron on the re Perched on the stove with ames growing higher No inside bathroom perhaps a loo in the shed At the end of the garden And you’re warm in your bed! Two hourly buses no hope of a car But trains ran to London for a night with the stars Or a night on the river a lm black and white Either cowboys and indians Or love at rst sight ere was always the radio until the accumulator* went down To be swapped at the shop a re-charge half a crown en came TV and things moved along Life suddenly changing And so were the songs ey were hard times to live through but a joy just the same We knew all of our neighbours it was more like a game en came the car, computers and phones And we bought our rst washing machine Today a must in all homes Man walked on the moon or so people say! A huge day in history a day amongst days Life just grew busier we owned our rst car Father drove to his o ce ough it really wasn’t far! Now we see millions of cars on the roads every day I don’t drive anymore eyes failing they say But what would I give for a peep back in time? To those ration book days ose lost days sublime! * e accumulator was the predecessor of todays disposable battery, usually recharged by the local dealer, who would exchange it for a fully re-charged replacement, this for a nominal fee The Sauna Experience by Sheila Watson© My sister’s 80th, time to celebrate Try something new, it’s never too late So we booked a beach sauna, thought we’d be brave Never expecting July’s heat wave We arrived at the beach and plunged into the sea Time to cool o , how lucky were we Living so near to this Dorset coast But then it was time to meet our host A t young man, all tanned and toned He gave us instructions, then le us alone We entered the room and boy was it hot But we’ve got to stick with it, like it or not We laid our towels carefully upon the seat And settled down to absorb the heat We chatted and laughed, and hu ed and pu ed And a er ten minutes we’d had enough Now, a door to our right I’ve forgotten to mention Something of which we paid little attention en we looked at each other “Oh for Heaven’s sake” We suddenly realised our whopping mistake As we stood up to leave, not a moment too soon We were not in the SAUNA, but the CHANGING ROOM! UP IN SMOKE by Mike ‘The BBQ King’ Bennett© We’d been joined by the folk from next door ey’re the friendliest people, for sure We had such a good time Drinking vodka and lime All agreed they should come back for more I’d suggested a barbie today “I’ll be chef” - what a DAFT thing to say Cooking’s not my best skill I risk making them ill Le to me, that’s the price they might pay Got the barbie out - good - I’m in luck So I thought - but it’s covered in ‘yuck’ Not been cleaned since last used To the grill - grease has ‘fused’ Bits of meat, I can see, are still stuck But I’m thankful it hasn’t been seen By the rest - I won’t bother to clean Cos it won’t go to waste It will add to the taste Of the food - if you see what I mean Let’s get started - how quick one forgets But I’ve managed to nd the briquettes Lighting uid as well Make it hotter than hell When ash forms, it’s as good as it gets In the uid, briquettes had a soak Slow to burn, though - it’s gone past a joke Must be doing it wrong Cos it’s taking so long All I’ve got is this large plume of smoke! Smoke’s so thick, now it’s lling the sky ere’s an absence of planes ying by Now you may well just laugh But it seems their ight path Has been changed - the ‘risk factor’s’ too high Can’t believe just how long that it took But at last I am ready to cook Meat’s piled high next to me At a glance I can see It’s not properly thawed - by the look at’s OK - Let’s get on - Can’t be slow We’re all starving - I’ll give it a go Later - if there’s a queue at’s been formed by the loo It’s a sign something’s wrong - then we’ll know Almost done but I need to go wee NOT FROM BOOZE - just a few cups of tea! I’ve been holding it in at’s a cardinal sin I’ll be back - I’ll be quick as can be I return and the barbies a ame Le my ‘post’ - so it’s me that’s to blame Food’s all black - badly burnt Lesson here to be learnt Bet the neighbours are pleased that they came! Now they’re sidling back home in disgust I’m the ‘masterchef’ no one can trust I’ll admit to ‘defeat’ As there’s nothing to eat Do you think you could spare us a crust? The copyright of all poems that are published in The Herald belong to the author and must NOT be reproduced without their permission
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