Shared with What Do You See #326 picture prompt
Axis Mundi – 4th February 2026
A reliquary, stone and timber,
Jigsaws – 3rd February 2026
cold compressed jigsaws
hardened in fire, abstracted
pathways to the depths
once I was walking
out of the darkness knowing
that I will walk back
Shared with the I Write Her Senhai Saturday #37 picture prompt
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
The Source Of Your Anxiety
Ask yourself ‘what is it you want?’
Does your anxiety serve you well?
Why sacrifice your peace of mind
when the gods of fate will never tell?
Always – 2nd February 2026
hall
ways to the vanishing
point me the way forward,
let me out!
trapped!
this nightmare never ends;
it starts over again.
A corridor poem about a corridor. A form invented by Lesley Scoble here, and a syllable count of 1,6,6,3,1,6,6.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
A Proper Frame Of Mind
Impulses no longer pull my strings
No longer having to argue all the things
That self-control, happiness brings
Independent, self-sufficiency sings
The Teakettle – 1st February 2026
wait for the whistle
twiddle thumbs in simpler times
hot water relief
Haiku inspired by this Substack post by Nilofer Neubert
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
For The Hot-Headed Man
Anger is weakness, a mistake
and these traps are easily laid
Set a foundation no one can shake
so your passions cannot be played
Unseen – 31st January 2026
my
etchings,
often seen,
wait in my room;
fingers gently trace along the edges….
….a long soft sigh often requires tissue.
a tear drop fell.
those etchings
were not
seen.
Shared with W3 #196 – suggestive tetractys
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Philosophy As Medicine Of The Soul
When the pressures of our lives
start to set our minds adrift
Recognised when to tap the brakes
and return to philosophy for a lift
Well – 30th January 2026
this well is so deep
light enters where it opens
dug down underneath
strike a match in the darkness
you are found in there somewhere
Shared with Tanka Tuesday #49 – mental health
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
You Don’t Have To Stay On Top Of Everything
Can you say ‘I don’t know’,
or even ‘I don’t care’?
The know-all cannot grow
Only the clueless may dare
Not My Beach – 29th January 2026
Pixels, faith, dust
Beaches I will never swim,
blue and bright;
Mock me with your gourmet food
under the moonlight.
You thrust a quiet knife in
with each sunset post;
As I eat my thinning stew
with old dry toast.
Share if you must
Shared with dVerse Quadrille #240 – trip. I didn’t use the word ‘trip’ in this, but ‘sunset’ could be easily replaced with ‘trip’s’. I prefer it this way, though. This poem is a reference to complaints about people posting their holiday photos online without regard for how that might affect others. I personally don’t know how I feel about this either way but that could be because I have been in a position to be able to experience beautiful beaches and gourmet food.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Keep It Simple
Everything can be as simple as said
This problem may be your last
The complexities are all in your head
How soon it has all passed
“I Don’t Know” – 28th January 2026
The poet does not look at the moon
but at its reflection upon the water.
The poet will borrow your eyes,
and you will borrow their words
and, as they move from understanding
into knowledge,
they become a lie
Reading of all the poets’ love
that you have never known;
a reflection upon reflection.
Do not be afraid to say,
‘I don’t know.’
Everyone has a place they need to go,
revealed without words.
More Osho-inspired writing.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Watching The Wise
Are we models of inspiration?
Are others asking you to advise?
So when dealing with frustration,
Will anyone call us wise?
The Kindling – 27th January 2026
The conversation you didn’t have
inconsequential in isolation.
Just another one for the road
or as a quiet consolation.
The small resentments came
after contributions, half-hearted.
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
was the kindling where it started.
Inspired by another David Elikwu article from The Knowledge newsletter.
The Daily Stoic poem:
The Three Areas Of Training
Our judgment affects our desires
Desires affect our deeds
And a clear composure inspires
The energy to meet our needs
Prevailing Mood – 26th January 2026
glue clings to my hands
won’t let go of fingers, still—
two drops more—borax
a salty scrubber
cleaning my creation
her eyes sparkle bright
tugging the shining ribbon—
we share in triumph
more gift than birthdays
a quiet celebration
piggyback riding
a sudden shriek—tight arms clutch
my glasses hit tiles below
oh no! what to do
now that we’ve run out glue?
blurred vision—laughing
A two-person rengay, written with David at The Skeptic’s Kaddish. David’s lines are italicised.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
1994ever 