Harper Lee has passed away,
Though her literary mark is here to stay.
To Kill a Mocking Bird lives on;
A Pulitzer Prize phenomenon.

The novel is about 1960s racial tension
It struck a chord with the world and drew attention.
An innocent black man in an Alabama court is depicted
Defended by honourable Atticus Finch, yet still he’s convicted.

The magic of the tale is that it is told through the eyes of a girl.
It’s via ten year old Scout that we see the drama unfurl.
Honest, observant, untainted by the isms of real adult life
It’s the child’s innocence that exacerbates such tragic racial strife.

Roses are red
Violets are blue.
In Valentine’s week
We’ve had a gravity coup.

Einstein’s theory
Of gravitational waves
Has at last been proven
Scientists praised.

We will now establish
The birth of space
From where we’ve come
To what might take place.

Black holes, supernovas,
Universal space station,
Meteors, the Great Bear –
My favourite constellation.

Back down here on earth
Is she from Venus, he from Mars?
Will you get a Valentine “Big Bang”?
And will you reach for the stars?

Rugby is back, the Six Nations is here!
A counter to news from crazy North Korea.
From earthquakes in Taiwan and Syrian crisis
A distraction from Brexit, from Zika and ISIS.

Opposing fans intermingle, they banter, they don’t brawl.
Violence confined to pitch via ruck, scrum and maul.
The game unifies these islands, even if only for one day,
Bringing old foes together, it represents fair play.

It matters not if you win Grand Slams, or mere wooden spoons;
Big voice and rousing pride belts out in national tunes
With bagpipe drones, with drums and with mighty horn blasts
Rugby is the only real winner, so enjoy it while it lasts.