Planted an oak, to stake our claim,
the day we moved in; the hill – mine,
plus a hundred acres of sky.
An expedition, all the way to the top –
me, and my two year old; picnic
by a shawl of chattering pines...
Dwarfed – our cottage, way below,
in the peach-tree dappled shade,
of a long-since tended orchard.
Bees – strum-hum in the clover,
and a skylark sings the many faces
of god and she sees dragons in the clouds.
‘Look!’ I say. ‘There’s a ‘Meadow Brown’ –
a ‘Painted Lady’, but now –far too busy,
playing with her toys.
Tea-time – the wind is chill, so pick up
her bat and ball – her teddy; a book
I brought to read. Fat chance of that!
‘Couldn’t we stay?’ she whines, as I lift her
to my hip. Grubby hands reach out –
reluctant to leave...
grabs a tuft of budding vetch; purple
and white. Gleefully, she brings it home –
as tiny flowers, shyly open
but the butterflies, the sun, the smell
of fresh-shorn grass, too much for us
to carry, and indeed, not ours to take.
Only on loan...the hill – the whole
of this. The best I can do, is to promise
we’ll come again...maybe tomorrow,
but then...only if we pay back,
all that we borrow.
Comments
fatboy74 | February 1, 2012 - 13:16
For once I am first to say what a fab poem this is - real depth and beautiful descriptive detail, a real pleasure this one Tina. :-)
jolono | February 1, 2012 - 14:30
Tina, glad to be the second! Love the line " only on loan" We take these beautiful things for granted but have to remember that they are indeed " only on loan".
Loved it.
Silver Spun Sand | February 1, 2012 - 15:04
Thanks, fb;-) Must be the sunshine made you quick off the mark; well, at least in my neck of the woods it's a sparkling winter's day, and I hope it's the same for you.
Tina;-)
Silver Spun Sand | February 1, 2012 - 15:06
Much appreciate your words, jolono, you are indeed right. I know that personally, I take so very much for granted and it never hurts just to stop and think, sometimes;-)
Tina
skinner_jennifer | February 1, 2012 - 15:35
You caught all the elements of nature in this poem
Tina and it certainly took me to where you live,
with your wonderful descriptions of the hill and
the hundred acres of sky, then down to the cottage,
in the peach-tree dappled shade. What a wonderful
place to live and what a beautiful poem to go with
the scene.
Thanks for sharing this one.
Jenny.
Silver Spun Sand | February 1, 2012 - 15:50
Thanks, Jenny;-) It does all look rather beautiful here today, what with the sun and the frost which is still lying in some sheltered spots.
Pleased you enjoyed.
Tina
Rhiannonw | February 1, 2012 - 17:31
I also found pleasure in your memories. It reminded me in an odd way of wishing I could photograph the sound of the waves on the clifftops, another thing you can't take home, except in your head!
Thanks again, Tina, Rhiannon
Silver Spun Sand | February 1, 2012 - 18:19
You're welcome, Rhiannon...and that analogy of yours, with the waves, a splendid one;-) Maybe use it one of your lovely poems?
Tina
Kilb50 | February 1, 2012 - 18:46
A lovely poem Silver...all that sun and the lush orchard...really warmed me up on this chilly day! A touch of foreboding too, I felt, in the second half...the chill wind, the dragon clouds...a sense of loss I guess - the moment will never be recaptured...an epiphanic poem, expertly handled and drawn together at the end with a tidy rhyme for good measure!
Silver Spun Sand | February 1, 2012 - 19:15
Thanks, so much, kib, for, as always, noticing the finer detail. More than appreciated;-)
Tina
shoe | February 1, 2012 - 20:01
A beautiful poem, but I love this verse;
'Bees – strum-hum in the clover,
and a skylark sings the many faces
of god and she sees dragons in the clouds.
Wonderful.
Silver Spun Sand | February 1, 2012 - 21:32
Thanks, shoe;-) My favourite, too.
Tina
Dear Ale... | February 1, 2012 - 22:19
Instantly relaxing. You captured the day outing perfectly and the concept of paying back what you borrow from nature was beautiful. Thanks for taking me up the hill with you.
Silver Spun Sand | February 2, 2012 - 07:57
You are welcome, DA...and I'm so pleased you enjoyed the view;-)
Tina
blighters rock | February 2, 2012 - 16:38
This took me back to good times, and then I started to think about my failings as a father.
As I have become more familiar with your work, I have found myself wanting to say to you that it must be time to let the past go, because your work centres around the maternal instinct, and with it I feel sadness for your loss.
It's only when I think deeper and realise that your poems are uplifting and joyous that I understand that you have let go, and that the process of your writing poetry is in fact an affirmation of gratitude for the love you experienced, and still do, with the person you hold dearest, a well kept tool to enrich the lives of those who read, a remote control to the screen of our memories, a program guide to our conscious dreams.
I am yet to get to a place where I have come to terms with my own loss, but I'm learning a great deal from reading you.
All the best
Richard
Silver Spun Sand | February 2, 2012 - 17:55
Richard, what can I say?
Firstly, many thanks for your inspired words, and you seem to have read my mind with some of the things you say. You obviously have that rare quality of total empathy, Richard.
And lastly, I hope you finally do 'get to that place', although I dont' know, if all honesty any of us ever really do. We kid ourselves, but when it comes right down to it...you know what I mean, I'm sure. All any of us can do is seek comfort in others who have gone through similar experiences, and if nothing else, if helps to alleviate that awful feeling of being alone. The wonderful thing about this writing site, I guess.
My best to you, Richard, and some.
Tina
Highhat | February 2, 2012 - 18:15
Thanks for the trip up the hill Tina and for the view. You put it all so well into words. Such a joy to read..
;)Pia
can't really catch up at the moment- sorry
ScoZen | February 2, 2012 - 18:17
In a word delightful Sand Lady.
Silver Spun Sand | February 2, 2012 - 18:20
Pia - I really do appreciate you reading this one, and am so pleased you found your trip worthwhile;-)
Quite a view today with the wonderful sunshine we'd enjoyed here, but my goodness, how the wind blows up there! And an easterly at that. Good job I had my thermals on;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | February 2, 2012 - 18:39
In a word, 'thank-you', ScoZen. Or should that be two?;-)
Sand Lady