He will not sleep tonight;
he knows – sure as his dog,
that follows his every step,
pretty soon, a storm will come,
as beneath a blackberry sky –
struggles to his knees to the cries
of roses in a stranglehold of ivy.
Without him, he is certain
these beloved trees, and plants
would not survive, nor would
the fields, the copse, the moor,
he calls his own, for they would
lose their reason to stay green,
and his birds – the robin, jay
and thrush, their will to sing.
He would never leave this place...
this land he’d planted, dug –
cherished from a lad, coursed
through his veins. His roots
ran deep, yet, if he had to go,
he’d pull them out cleanly;
even now dreading...
the dark before the dawn.
Comments
skinner_jennifer | June 25, 2011 - 16:45
This is a beautiful poem of dedication and commitment, striving to keep going through
the hard times.
Great read Tina, much enjoyed and brilliant IP.
Jenny.
maisie | June 25, 2011 - 16:51
yum 'the stranglehold of ivy' yum!
Silver Spun Sand | June 25, 2011 - 17:25
Thanks, Jenny.
The poem is, in fact, about a lovely, old gentleman we inherited as a 'gardener' when we bought our house, many years ago now. His dog was called 'Timmy' and he too, along with his master, is looking down on me right now, and, hopefully, smiling...if dogs can smile, that is;-)
So pleased you enjoyed.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | June 25, 2011 - 17:25
Hi, Maisie...I rather like that bit too, if I'm honest;-)
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. More than appreciated.
Tina
Beeme | June 25, 2011 - 19:24
There is so much I like about this one Tina, beautiful as always. lovely imgery :)I especially like the second verse.
Beeme xx
valiswaverider | June 25, 2011 - 20:49
very, very good , not sure if Ive read one of yours before but will take a look at your other stuff. I like your wavelengh
Silver Spun Sand | June 25, 2011 - 20:50
Many thanks, Beeme. Pleased you enjoyed.
Tina;-)xx
Silver Spun Sand | June 25, 2011 - 20:51
Thanks, so very much. I like your wavelength too;-)
Tina
rjnewlyn | June 25, 2011 - 23:52
Some amazing imagery - I loved the blackberry sky and the screaming roses. And the sense of a person in a place and belonging there.
Rob
Highhat | June 26, 2011 - 06:08
I also liked this poem very much Tina- I liked the way you put man and nature together here- the way they couldn't be without each other. That you conveyed very well. Yes some beautiful images. I especially liked the 2nd stanza- it is so powerful. I bet he was a terrific gardener!!
have a peaceful Sunday
;)Pia
seashore | June 26, 2011 - 07:44
I very much like that this was based on a character you knew and cared about - it means so much more at the second read.
The way you have written it through his eyes, his thoughts is wonderful.
Silver Spun Sand | June 26, 2011 - 08:05
Thanks Rob for reading this, and letting me know your thoughts. More than appreciated.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | June 26, 2011 - 08:10
Hi there, Pia. He was a terrific gardner, although the only time he tried to cut our lawn, he nearly cut his toes off...so we confiscated the mower!
Seriously though, he sure did know his plants and flowers. My fondest memories of him, his name was Ernie, incidentally, are when he would drop by on a Sunday afternoon, to give me a bunch of asters or wallflowers that he'd grown in his own little plot...Timmy snapping at his heels;-)
Many thanks for reading,Pia, and for your words.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | June 26, 2011 - 08:13
Thanks for that, Coral. He was quite some character. Eighty years young when he first started tending our garden and only hanging up his hoe when they banned him from driving...his eyesight leaving quite a bit to be desired, bless him.
Pleased you enjoyed this so much...as much as I have enjoyed reminiscing, I hope. Have a sunny Sunday, and don't forget your sunscreen;-)
Tina
SundaysChild | June 26, 2011 - 13:34
Fascinating to hear the story behind this piece. Really amazing imagery and so very beautiful, in particular:
'Without him, he is certain
these beloved trees, and plants
would not survive, nor would
the fields, the copse, the moor,
he calls his own, for they would
lose their reason to stay green,
and his birds – the robin, jay
and thrush, their will to sing.'
Just wonderful! Really well done on this one Tina, these lines will stay in my mind for some time xx
Silver Spun Sand | June 26, 2011 - 14:37
Thanks so much, Sunday's and so will yours;-)
Tina xx
MistakenMagic | June 26, 2011 - 18:10
Another truly beautiful poem, Tina! There's a simplicity to this that only enhancing the stunning imagery. Love the title too ;)
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | June 26, 2011 - 18:23
Thanks, so much Magic. Hope you're enjoying a lovely sunny Sunday;-)
Tina xxx
Cavalcaderl | June 28, 2011 - 16:14
new Silver=Spun-Sand congrats; on well deserved cherry!Whoops! forgot and for the (IP) to.
Just magic with colour beauty, and the way as poet,can do it so well. Thoroughly enjoyed.
good luck with the comp;entries
Sorry you have a gale, we have terrific claps.
of thunder, but have a great friend here, the cat Jazz, mine has carried on n/home as long term friend moving, to-day, had no bags packing so mine went walking half hour shop and got them, still not 80 fit
to be sent alone, or maybe someone's helping now. Can't see how get all help, to do anything although social workers and carer's, quite away from us, still in wheelchair not walking yet, be couple floors up. Don't mention storm, black skies, 2 terrific claps and rolls thunder, loudest ever heard.
Jazz had bit of my fish,I went go postbox,and put him
out, till I came back, wouldn't shift.I don't usually leave him in with me,as I playing through the chair bars and course out came claws to play.Lovely So he is washing after licking margarine butter of piece bread. And still with me. In shop yesterday, chose chocolate he was on floor, I spoke him,chose my choc but suddenly, narrow anyone to pass,he was on top something, turned round thinking what's that and Jazz
bumped me with his head, he does if on wall, not in shop I was quite alert. Areas briefing, not so good
around here!
Have a good day. Love explanation of all the flower's
you mention, very cleverly done.
julie xx
Silver Spun Sand | June 28, 2011 - 17:44
Thanks, Richard. Sorry I haven't got back to you before, but your kind words seemed to have slipped the net somehow. Anyway, definitely better late than never, and I appreciate your, as usual, astute and more than valued thoughts.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | June 28, 2011 - 17:49
Gosh, Julie haven't you been busy and Jazz sounds quite a cat.
Glad you enjoyed my poem, and many thanks too for the competition good wishes.
It's not blowing a gale today by the way, and we do have thunder and torrential rain as well;-)
Have a peaceful evening.
Tina xx
Nolan | July 4, 2011 - 11:57
Good work Tina. And it is coldest too- just before dawn.
Keep well! Nolan
Silver Spun Sand | July 5, 2011 - 08:00
Hello there, Nolan;-) Good to hear from you. Hope life is treating you kindly.
Many thanks for reading this and I'm pleased you liked...and what you say is certainly true, as my garden was testament to one morning in late May. But that's another story, as they say;-)
Tina
Nathan Bednarek | July 29, 2011 - 13:59
I love the flow in this poem. It's like the words just lean gently on each other. Gorgeous poetry. Well done!
Nathan x
Silver Spun Sand | July 29, 2011 - 18:47
Thanks, Nathan, for reading and for taking the trouble to comment so thoughtfully;-)
Tina xx
lyssagurl_l0l | January 14, 2012 - 21:34
This spoke, to me, as all of your poetry does to anyone out there, I'm sure. Probably one of the best I've read today :)
~:)alyssa(:~
Silver Spun Sand | January 14, 2012 - 21:59
alyssa...many thanks for reading this and for your more than kind comment;-)
Tina
lyssagurl_l0l | January 14, 2012 - 22:43
It was my pleasure :)
Thanks for posting :)
~:)alyssa(:~