Yack yarns

You can find more poetry on The Totton linnet pages and also some fun short, true lifers.
Read about how me and my cousin managed to rassle up a swarm of “cavalier” wasps with our “parliamentary ” pike
Whang’a’wasp http://gentledove.wordpress.com/yack-2

City girl when I got chased by a billy goat

http://gentledove.wordpress.com/yack3  
Plus my days as a schoolie on work experience.

http://gentledove.wordpress.com/yack-4

Over the transom

 Eyes above the transom
stood upon her chair,
looking out over the garden
where just last night, she is sure,
were pixies and fairies bright.
And over there elves counselled with Oberon.
 Now pixies are buttercups, fairies daisies.
Where the elf king had sat, a dandelion.
Dandelion, dandy, LION!
startled, she hears a roar
she jumps down with a cry of alarm
“Mummy help! there is a lion outside [...]

Netley shore

The following is an extract from Damson jam http://gentledove2.wordpress.com/damson-jam
Moonlight shadow, moonlight shadow
I don’t want to be mantled with you
cold and unfriendly as you are,
chilled with the midnight dew.
I want to have a sunbeam
clothed upon my shoulder
little sis will hide her face
unless loving arms enfold her.
We were sitting on a towel
down on Netley shore
eating bread and damson jam
harking [...]

St. Catherines hill [Winchester]

Walking the Miz-maze
on St. Catherine’s hill
counting orchids while the setting sun,
with practised skill,
is setting the sky all on fire.
Going down steppes
a stride and a half each one
to where plague pits give context.
The woodman’s fire among the trees
in the gathering dusk
a bowl of incense,
lacking only musk.
Blue Iris stands alone
among reeds taller than she
looking over the river,
a princess among her courtiers I see
waiting for her prince.
*
by The Totton linnet
Photo [...]

Totton linnet

 
 It’s never too far to go
 to Totton on a sigh
there among the copses
 meadow marshes nearby.
Linnet makes her home there
in the hedgerow
her cock is handsome of breast and crown
with the voice of a flute you know.
It was there I heard the morning
say “welcome to my day”
and showed me where to look and find
the One whose thoughts hold [...]

Between two chords

The following is an extract from “A turgid stem.”
 http://gentledove2.wordpress.com/the-turgid-stem

 

 

Between two chords.
*
I am lost between two chords
the mandolin is playing
you found me wand’ring somewhere
between the cello strains.
Standing between the willow
and the tanner’s brook
I just don’t have a reason
to take a backward look.

Autumn Itchen

Autumn gold at four o’clock
leaves like snow starting to lay
yellowing mellow, well ripe fruit
 watch scratchground squirrel stashing loot
the wind is teaching the trees to hymn
*
Ramble bramble, berries black
fringed and dotted with rose hip red
it’s time to ponder and reflect
 lonely collar turned up, chill protect
summer is slipping away from you
*
Deepening shades and colours 
piccolo piping, toning flute
songsters for winter prepare
a smell of maturing in the air
holding up, as seems, woodman’s smoke
*
But the River Itchen swells
in boastful wisdom he tells us
“tis [...]

Leafwind changes

I’ve seen the wind in the trees
the leaves clap their hands
yes they clap their hands
rejoicing in the breeze
*
I’ve heard the wind in the night
when no eye can see
it’s too dark to see
whispering out of sight
*
I watch the  seasons of the year
and it’s moving on
always moving on
it’s your life, hold it dear
*
I see the leaves on [...]

Glimpses

A spark from a fire
as it spits in the air
hoverfly bluffing
weaving breeze like a wasp
as long as he dare
*
Pictures in a book
when the pages are flicked
water vole diving
at my approaching tread
the water has quicked
*
The bat’s swerving miss
when the twilight has come
flashing of headlights
from passing by traffic
invading my home
*
Sparkle the sparkling wine
as it touches the air
watched dissipation
tree hiding [...]