On Afternoons in the Tower

Daylight fades away.
My computer screen glowing
in the dimming light.

On the Benefits of Ivory Towers

Clustered under eaves
of great temples of learning
watching the downpour.

The Narrow Road to the Far Conference VI

No-one questions you?
This enormous silence shouts
louder than your talk.

The Narrow Road to the Far Conference V

Coffee cups clinking
ravenous scholars descend -
biscuits and contacts.

The Narrow Road to the Far Conference IV

At the podium -
this room of academics
now almost silent.

The Narrow Road to the Far Conference III

On this long journey
some unexpected vistas -
a single footnote!

The Narrow Road to the Far Conference II

The scholar regrets
his optimistic abstract -
typing on the train.

The Narrow Road to the Far Conference I

Full of spring urges
animals migrate homewards:
scholars gathering.

On Unexpected Urban Wildlife

Spilling orange light
across the black quadrangle -
a fox at midnight.

On Wintery Debates

Fogging the windows:
scholarly exhalations
hide the outside world.

On Working Well

Writing, re-writing.
Hammered out from a blank sheet -
a bright copper bowl.

On the Shortness of Days

Slanting winter sun.
Weathered college stone and slate -
half shadow, half light.

On Forgetting and Surprise

Folded paper frog.
On its belly, characters -
forgotten haiku!

On the Last Lecture of the Week

Friday afternoon.
PowerPoint slides fade away
to a pure white screen.

On Returning Home Late

Quiet city night.
The lamps of insomniacs
light my way to bed.

On Traces from the Past

Sepia on white
memories of past chapters:
old coffee-mug rings.