A MYSTERY poet lamenting the beauty of Worcester has been posting varied verse around a popular city walking spot.

People have been left stumped by the unexplained appearance of the haikus, short poems based on a Japanese style, which have been pinned to trees in Pitchcroft.

A number of verses, which have been handwritten or typed on scraps of paper, have begun appearing on the trees which line the riverside path running alongside Worcester Racecourse.

And the unknown author seems to have taken some inspiration from the city, with several poems featuring lines about locations including the Hive and the riverbank.

One of the haikus read: “Willow trees sighing. Golden sparkle of a Hive. Fresh air but dead trees.”

Jenny Cheshire, commercial manager at Worcester Racecourse, said she had not been aware of the poems but items had appeared in the trees before.

“I have seen things in the trees before,” she said.“People have made little straw figures and things like that but I am not sure who does it.”

Another poem found on a tree along the path read: “Munching on my pie. [Illegible word] on the waterfront. Nom nom we got wine.”

Runner Sarah Davies, from Arboretum, Worcester, said she had first noticed them on Saturday.

”They were there on Saturday near the Pump House entrance,” said the 25-year-old, a politics student at Birmingham University.

“They weren’t there the previous Sunday when I went for my last run. It’s intriguing.”

Both Worcestershire LitFest and Fringe and the Worcestershire Poetry Society, Stanza, said the poems were not part of any official events they had organised and a spokeswoman from Worcester City Council said they did not know who was behind the words.

* Do you know the phantom poet? Get in touch on 01905 742255, or e-mail news@worcesternews.co.uk.