Conkers

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 01 Oct 2011
  • 2304 reads
7 comments
 

Conker, lying on the ground,
are you waiting to be found –
while you’re hard and shiny still –
by a little boy who will
hoard, delight in you, but may
bore a hole so he can play
“conqu’rors” – swinging on a string,
battered hard to see who’ll win –?
When your shine has gone, no longer
little children’s precious treasure.

So, –
Would you rather settle there,
on the damp earth to prepare;
germinating in the spring, –
if you’re not destroyed by then –?

If you grow for many years,
big and strong, a tree that bears
many leaves like hands outspread, –
out from sticky buds unfurled, –
big white candle-clustered flowers
dabbed with red, then later conkers
form from pollinated blossom,
prickly-cased to fall in autumn ….

Certificate U
Poem
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Glad it was enjoyed, to get cherries! Rh

 

Submitted by jeand on

HI Rhiannon

I have several horse chestnut trees near me, and conkers falling already, all over the place. I didn't know the word was taken from conquerers - how interesting.  They are beautiful trees, and as I don't get much of a view from my house of hills and such, I am pleased that they are what I see from my windows.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, they are lovely trees, and that reference to conquerers I must have seen at the time, though there is sometimes some debate over derivations, isn't there, especially place names. Thanks for reading. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by loquaciousicity on

Wonderful poem, Rhiannonw!

I spent a little time in London when I was a kid... and actually played conkers! I wasn't very good, but your poem has brought back fond memories... thanks for the poem!!! 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

And thank you! Glad you enjoyed – this is an old one of mine, I think it was quite old when I posted it here! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I have to confess to playing conkers as a child and not thinking twice about the fact it could turn into a tree. Now of course I know better to leave them alone.

This is a great little poem with some special rhythm and rhyme that sets the poem off nicely.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, well there is an abundance, so (as long as it is safe) I think some can be spared for playing with. I just love the 'polished' surface while it lasts, and the children love stroking and hoarding them while it lasts. My daughter-in law, having just moved here, was searching in the autumn for where the horse chestnut trees were near here to show her 3 year old. They found some and made a 'caterpillar' with wiggly eyes out of some of them!

A very old poem, and glad you found and enjoyed. Rhiannon