before Floris

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Di_Hard

Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • 1161 reads
28 comments
 

 bright low disc shining through cool ruffled grey clouds, late sun

caught on purple knapweed and creamy meadowsweet sprays

where our goal opens,  calm's pull

to tranquil west, peace embracing this bay, Saint Ninian's

 

heron, long and shy, upright in flat water; a curlew, curved beak

dibbling clear shallows. Smooth grey sand then white

white shells, come to rest, testament of many cockle lives

broken into a new grace, at crunchy dry seaweed-dark, laced

with cinquefoil's small yellow flowers and questing stalks

like red liquorice. Gulls seem noble here, hermits

not beggars all must be living with us; even were the sea

empty and their searching faith only, this place is better

 

dusk is winning and we turn back. A shimmering of chirps 

Swifts! gathered into thrilling tinsel on telphone wires

 

change is present everywhere, as thoughts fly

far away; at last governments join in offering

to accept Palestine as a state, and hope sparks

a distant light. Over a stone wall, lush grass

homes a pale universe of clover stars

feeding moths with beauty, frail and prehistoric

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Breathtakingly beautiful - please don't delete this one di

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Very glad I was able to communicate how special the place is :0) Thank you so much for the cherries

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Your poetic description of the beautiful nature around you at this time of year and the situation in Palestine are each at opposite ends of the spectrum of what's exists daily n my mind Di. It increases the need for we in safer countries to appreciate what we have.

An excellent thought-provoking poem. 

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thank you for understanding. This side of the island seems saturated in peace, I wish so much it could be shared, all the terror and despair eased

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

What a lovely place to be, what a lovely walk! And all recorded in mind and paper/computer. Thank you. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thank you so much Rhiannon :0) I love your walking poems, so really happy you enjoyed this!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

That first stanza drew me in to this poem. Then the detailed descriptions of stanza two, had me longing to be close to the coast.

Your narrative of the gorgeous surroundings, is hopefully timeless in the ever changing world we live in.

A pleasure to read Di.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou very much Jenny. I hope you do get to the coast again. I have really loved your stories and poems about Cornwall. I hope you are well and have had rain for your garden now

 

Submitted by marandina on

'Gulls seem noble here, hermits

not beggars all must be living with us; even were the sea

empty and their searching faith only, this place is better..'

Took me right there. Sounds like a stunning place. Beautifully evoked.

[I pick out the lines re gulls as there are so many down here. I have two that now consider my garage roof their own. I could sit for hours watching them 'talk' to each other.] 

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I love listening to them, too :0) Even after all these years, still exhillarating to hear them calling from the chimneys. I wonder if there are any studies on different sounds they make. Sadly there are few babies here, this year, I guess because not enough food. I hate what we are doing to them, to look in their eyes, intelligence

 

Submitted by marandina on

Such a wonderful walk. I wish I was actually there.

This is today's Facebook, X/Twitter and BlueSky Pick of the Day.

Congratulations.

I have added a pic to promote your piece on social media. Just let me know if you prefer to use something else.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Yay! Nice one Di, smiley

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou :0)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much Paul! Really appreciated :0) The photo is lovely!

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

quietly, and with grace.

 

"Gulls seem noble here, hermits

not beggars all must be living with us; even were the sea

empty and their searching faith only, this place is better

 

dusk is winning and we turn back"

 

Delighted to enjoy this.

L

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thank you so much Lena, really happy you enjoyed this

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

This is stunning Di, I had to return to it a few times. I enjoyed how you describe the status of the gulls elevated because of their environment (like humans) and the abundant coastal life brought to life so fully that the reader is transported.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou very much for reading and your kind comment Jane, the west of the island always seems on the edge of magic. Even, on the mainland west coast, when the train reaches the station for the ferry, and the light is bright on the sea, it always feels so intense. That you read it a few times is an honour, thankyou :0)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This is our very beautiful Poem of the Week. Congratulations!

Submitted by Di_Hard on

THANK YOU SO MUCH :0)

 

Submitted by celticman on

gulls as beggars, beggars belief.  I hope we see that chink of light. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

me too. Thank you very much for reading. Have you read this great poet's work yet? I bet you have but incase you haven't (I only found yesterday)

https://zeteo.com/p/exclusive-an-original-poem-from-acclaimed

 

Submitted by ScoZen on

When I go back to Scotland  ( Loch Lomond  ) I'm often dissapear into a world as you describe beautifully.      '...cinquefoil's small yellow flowers and questing stalks like red liquorice. 

and this line  "...A shimmering of chirps Swifts! gathered into thrilling tinsel on telphone wires..."

Then my  world is shattered when I read " ...Zeteo' story  "... "...I look at his wrist. It is crushed, nearly severed..."   I'm swearing here ****

Take care and thanks for alerting me to Zeteo

 

 

 

ScoZen

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Scozen :0) Thank You so much for reading. You come from Loch Lomond! We live on one of the islands, but may be moving to be nearer Edinburgh, as my son has a place at Napier, and it is going to be a wrench. I am so happy to have taken you back to how amazing it can be up here :0) And Thank You for reading Mohab Abu Toha's poems. His words stir deep

 

Submitted by ScoZen on

Your island secret is out in the open now.

Celticman has charted the Waverley is already sailing there with a full crew of ABC talers on board.

And congratulations to your son.  Napier is a well respected university and, I'm afraid you will have stay on the island for the moment,  he will flying over  shortly in a seaplane with new friends from the campus.

'...If you all look out of the right window...you can my mum hanging out the washing...'  '...And to your left...Duck Bay Marina...'

ScoZen

Submitted by Di_Hard on

This would win favourite comment ever :0)

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

This was beautiful, Di. And that last stanza pitch perfect. Well deserved honors x

Rich

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

lovely to hear from you :0) Very glad you if liked it, looking forward to more brilliant writing from you :0)