The garden needs a dragon
it looks now slumped,hungover,unkempt
tousled
as grumpy as a Freshman on a Monday
shrubs collapsed by a winter hypnotist
"and down"
Sleeping Beauty's wicked witch
put the Corps de Ballet
into a pose
arms poised like dying swans
resting folded on outstretched feet
over time the glossy hair
began to frizz, drizzled with dust
became
Miss Haversham coughing
in a draught
papery and brittle
It needs a dragon
a red gold sun dragon
to breath fire into Forsythia
Philadelphus and Viburnum
agitate Azaleas
roar at Rhododendrons
cozen Camellias
with its glittering eyes
At the moment
its stomping about
in the wings
shaking a ladder
but it hasn't really begun
Comments
fatboy74 | February 19, 2011 - 11:03
This is really good and love that papery and brittle Miss Haversham analogy.
Silver Spun Sand | February 19, 2011 - 11:30
Some brilliantly imaginative writing here, Camilla. You do have a style all your own;-) This my favourite part:-
"It needs a dragon
a red gold sun dragon
to breath fire into Forsythia
Philadelphus and Viburnum
agitate Azaleas
roar at Rhododendrons
cozen Camellias
with its glittering eyes"
Looking out at my garden, this rainy, Saturday morning, my garden needs a dragon too;-)
Tina
camilla | February 19, 2011 - 11:51
I have a lowering feeling that some of the more wretched looking shrubs would have been a lot better
if they had been pruned last year. There is one identifiable Dogwood ,dragon touched at the top. There are some other shrubs which might also be Cornus and perhaps should have been... Am lucky enough to have
a gardener who comes for a few hours a week. He is in his 70s and came with the house.
He cuts the grass and grows veg ,taking some for himself as well as being paid. He prunes fruit trees ,but doesn't prune shrubs.Once upon a time several owners ago the house had an owner who was a very keen gardener.She spent apparently many many hours a day gardening.Aah!
I love what pops up all of its own accord but I am not up to making the garden look well groomed.It looks like a University lecturer permanently rumpled.
Its time consuming enough in the summer watering, and picking, cleaning, and cooking what grows to eat.
Nelson, (the gardeners name is Nelson and he is from
Norfolk),spoke with great enthusiam about cabbages the other day.
I arranged my face so that I looked delighted and
ordered some anti slug nematodes.
Highhat | February 19, 2011 - 12:23
Brilliant ;) Come to life with a dragon- just wait until the sun really has power-
;)Pia
skinner_jennifer | February 19, 2011 - 16:48
I love your original description of the garden,
before summer comes.
Jenny.
jonahs cough | February 21, 2011 - 14:44
this is lovely. i'm a fresher and it's a monday so i know just how this garden feels. thanks for the read camilla