THE WILDERNESS

 

The fierce sun burned the land

Cracking stone, bleaching bone

Drying the rich earth to dust

To be blown on the four winds

Or washed away by unforgiving rains

So infrequent in their coming

 

Unable to penetrate the iron earth

Rain-washed off the barren land

Like it were a repellent oily hide

Leaving it sterile and infertile

To all but natures hardiest

Most determined to cling to life

 

In the fast-expanding wilderness

Beneath rocks and stones life goes on

Insects toil industriously, while

Un-germinated seeds bide their time

Until nature smiles once more

On this harsh and arid land

THROUGH THE MISTY DAWNING

 

Through the misty dawning

Of a crisp autumn morning

Like emerging from a dream

Amidst the haunting scene

I spy Pheasants in the frost

And in the moment, I am lost

THE SUNRISE WAS A GLOWING RED

 

The sunrise was a glowing red

As the day began frostily

Beneath the clear skies

But those skies turned grey

As the days early promise faded

Along with the light

What was clear however

Was that rain was on the way

Maybe even hill snow

But it was equally possible

That the sky will become blue again

And for some the sun may return

SUMMER SQUALL

The sky is grey and dark

Defying the sun to appear

Then the wind picks up

And thunder is getting near

Rain follows with lightning

Flashes that strike fear

And preludes the thunder

So loud it deafens the ear

But then its passes on

And the skies are clear

IDYLLIC VISION

 

Walking the rugged paths and lanes

Over hill and vale, through field and wood

Past timbered cottages with thatched roofs

And white picket fences and wishing wells

Ending at a country pub with low oak beams

And brasses decorating the walls

Such is my idyllic vision of a country walk

FLITTING AND FLUTTERING

The sunshine dances

On butterfly wings

As they flit and flutter

Never still, never pausing

As they in turn dance

To natures gentle tune  

THE MIGHTY OAK LAY BROKEN

 

The mighty oak lay broken

In the wake of the storm

And I am deeply saddened

For as a boy I climbed

Its mighty steadfast trunk

And sat amongst its limbs

Sheltering beneath its canopy

As generations of small boys

Had done many times before me

But then I saw an acorn

On the ground beside my feet

So, I picked it up and smiled

And took it home with me

So, I could grow his son