Boxers in Yellow

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Fri, 26 Jun 2015
  • 2557 reads
10 comments
 
 
The summer solstice, and once on a rising sun...
a jolly red ball, like the nose of a clown, 
jostles over the hedge... 
 
So spotted – a down of hares
busy boxing; paws up for a fisticuffs, 
fight-ya-for-it, rough and tumble.
 
Two pairs of ears, all-a-twitch; 
pert as the nipples of a fool-hardy dipper
in a verdant, rippling sea, throbbing with birdsong.
 
Bolt upright, they sit...then they’re off 
like a shot, until a crouch-in-the-field-quietness 
says I’m here, only I’m not,
 
amidst a crop, so impossibly yellow, all awash
with mustard-seed rape...
 
while a milky-moon, moons down, 
till over the hill, and far away they scoot, 
when they are done.
 
But who beat who? No one I guess; 
only doing what hares do.
 
 
 
 
 
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Silver Spun Sand Poems
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Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

What a sight, even in poetic form! I was thrilled even to see a hare, some time ago. I was just recently looking up a bit about collective nouns, too. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

It really WAS quite something.  We do see hares here quite regularly, the young ones sometimes run along the top of our fence, but I have never seen one of their famous boxing matches before, and not one since, unfortunately.  They do it mostly around the spring equinox, and hence the hoard of ancient mythology which abounds concernng these wonderfully mysterious creatures.

And yes, aren't collective nouns fun?smiley  I love looking them up.

Many thanks for your lovely comment, Rhiannon.  Have a peaceful evening.

Tina

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I saw something like this once as a child, never since, and you've brought that magical moment back so vividly.  And I loved 'pert as the nipples of a fool-hardy dipper' - wonderful image!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, af...your thoughts more than appreciated.  Hope your weekend is going well.

Tina

 

Submitted by love_writing on

Beautifully done. Animals just get on with a moment of fisty-cuffs to sort things out then forget about it...it doesnt seem to matter who bet who...a bit like children too! 

love_writing

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Very much like kids, lw.  smiley  Thanks so much for reading and taking the trouble to let me know you enjoyed.

Tina

 

Submitted by EB on

How great to see them and write about them so well. 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I know how lucky I was to witness it, EB.  Just one of those 'once in a lifetime' moments, undoubtedly.  Glad I managed to impart just a little of the magic to you.smiley

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Tina,

I didn't know that hares boxed around the time of the Spring Equinox, this is so interesting.

Really enjoyed the playfulness of this poem, looks like you had fun writing it.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Nor did I Jenny.  I have seem them boxing at the end of the summer, and even in thick snow...so it would seem they do it all the year round...when we're lucky enough to see them, that issmiley

Glad you enjoyed this...and yes, I enjoyed writing it, very much.

Tina