Californian-born Judi Benson lives in the East End of London but from 2004 to 2007 was writer-in-residence at the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Informary.

Her poems are thoughtful, quirky, and take delight in word-play. This sample comes from her fourth collection, Hole in the Wall (Rockingham Press, £9.99).

IN A WORD

I love the way the trees say Aye,

as they fling their leaves,

confetti at my feet.

Not a dainty Highland fling of a word

but a booming sound that comes from the roots,

groins its way up through bark,

rumbles in the throat awhile, then bursts forth

emphatically, Aye, sending a percussion

of colours to clash.

The gulls are frantic with it,

Aye,aye,aye, circling the swirl of leaves,

spent now, gold covering the green.