Day 71 Tuesday March 16th

inner west 15 minutes
The Drive
Bright sunshine dazzles and    out of the wind       warms
Blue tits explore the nest box         that hangs in the elder
Bang thud tinkle     builders come and go        and windchimes

Day 72 Wednesday March 17th

outer east 12 minutes
The Drive High Street Moorfield Little Moor Jesmond Dene Road 
 Osborne Road Mitchell Avenue North Jesmond Avenue Newbrough Crescent 
 Osborne Road Reid Park Road
By a 12th century chapel  a place of pilgrimage   in St Mary’s name
A dell below me is overgrown    untended     and a riot of birds
Against the bright sunlight I see mainly shapes    flying in and out
Two bursts of a woodpecker’s drum   counterpoint   to the bin wagon’s
 slow thumping approach

Day 73 Thursday March 18th

inner west 4 minutes
The Poplars High Street Elmfield Road
Under the eaves   the tit goes into its nest  traffic’s passing press
Electric gates and entry systems    from behind a wall    the smell 
 of death
A runner     irritated at the van     parked across the pavement

Day 74 Friday March 19th

outer west 13 minutes
The Drive Westfield Drive Fernville Road Kenton Road Montague Avenue Wilson Gardens
Rotted gatepost   front wall pointing gone       dunnock singing
Electric van    delivering brown parcels    that are green
Gull cry ‘daw chack    bin thump     finch  and electric van  wheeze

Day 75 Saturday March 20th

outer northeast 5 minutes
The Poplars Roseworth Avenue The Grove Moor Road North 
 St Nicholas Avenue Rectory Grove
The street footballers bounce and shout   helicopter drone      below
 a single con-trail
The beech hedge glows   burnished copper   a mother and son run laps

Day 76 Sunday March 21st

outer north 15 minutes
The Poplars High Street St Nicholas Avenue
The dawn slowly lightens   grass and detritus   last night’s revelry
To a quieting of sparrow cheep    magpie crows gulls     distant
 blackbird’s song
Wood pigeon’s    undulating flight    and one early-spring wing clap

Day 77 Monday March 22nd

inner southwest 12 minutes
The Drive Moor Crescent High Street
Baskets bulging   the honeybees are dusted yellow  with willow pollen
In the dip   road sounds pass above me       a robin sings
The ground is wet   mud and puddles       from rain and melting snow