'The Borrowers' (Poetry Monthly)

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Thu, 22 Oct 2015
  • 9713 reads
20 comments
 
An expedition, all the way to the top – 
me, and my two year old; a picnic 
by a covey of chattering pines...
 
Planted an oak, to stake our claim,
the day we moved in; the hill – ours,
hers and mine, plus a hundred acres of sky.
 
Dwarfed – our cottage, way below,
in the peach-tree dappled shade,
of a long-since tended orchard. 
 
Bees – strum-hum in the clover,
and a skylark sings the many faces
of god and she sees dragons in the clouds.
 
‘Look!’ I say. ‘There’s a ‘Meadow Brown’ –
a ‘Painted Lady’, but now –far too busy,
playing with her toys.
 
Tea-time – the wind is chill, so pick up
her bat and ball – her teddy; a book 
I brought to read. Fat chance of that!
 
‘Couldn’t we stay?’ she whines, as I lift her
to my hip. Grubby hands reach out –
reluctant to leave...
 
grabs a tuft of budding vetch; purple
and white. Gleefully, she brings it home – 
as tiny flowers, shyly open
 
but the butterflies, the sun, the smell
of fresh-shorn grass, too much for us
to carry, and indeed, not ours to take.
 
Only on loan...the hill – the whole
of this.  The best I can do, is to promise
we’ll come again...maybe tomorrow,
 
but then...only if we give back,
what we borrow.
 
 
 
 
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Comments

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

Such an achingly heart-full poem, full of warmth and memory utilising all the senses at once.  Love the journey, the lyrical approach and the final lines closing the circle of storytelling with a truth.  Love, love, loved it, Tina!   Thank you.  

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

May I share your poem on my blog:  francesmacaulayforde.wordpress.com  please, Tina?

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

You may indeed, Frances.  Be my guestsmiley

 

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

Done - thank you. :-)

 

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Quite the contrary, Frances...thank yousmiley

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you so much, Frances, for telling me how much you enjoyed this poem, in such a delightful waysmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

sounds so idyllic!

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Idyllic, so it wassmiley

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

A lovely shimmer of summer, on this dark autumnal morning, I'll borrow pictures from it to cheer up my day.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Borrow awaysmiley

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Maybe there's a giving back by sharing what you've picked up of the feel and sights, the smells and appreciation? Much of the countrside wonders and of mother and child relationship and benefits to each other here.
Of course, she could give back the vetch she 'borrowed'!
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks, Rhiannon, and I quite agree with yousmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by torscot on

Sand lady.  This is truly delightful read.

Catches all the senses, and  I can see it as a water colour painting, very visual indeed.

ps  Aren't  little hills  wonderful places for a grand  expedition with a two year old in tow.

Regards

torscot

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

They are indeed, torscot, and it is always a breath of fresh air to hear from you.smiley

Many thanks for reading.

Sand Lady

 

Submitted by EB on

'but the butterflies, the sun, the smell
of fresh-shorn grass, too much for us
to carry, and indeed, not ours to take.'    

Seems you managed to take so much more than you realised possible because it turned up here in this thoughtful poem, filled with sweet memories. Can't make our children appreciate fully the things we admire, but those early experiences along with our reactions sink in over time. The idea of giving back becomes all at once, wistful and brings in a sense of responsibility toward the beaunty we covet. 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

How well and succinctly you sum up the essence of this poem, EB. Many thanks.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Simply lovely, Tina.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Ta, dear Bee...ever sosmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Steeped with gorgeous nature imagery. Reflects the childhood story but has its own originality. 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

So pleased you thought so, Vera.smiley