Karelia (Poetry Monthly)

Gold cherry

By Pat G

Mon, 08 Feb 2016
  • 2809 reads
10 comments
 

A small beer slouches

near its owner’s hand.

Its fading bubbles

barely bother to rise.

 

Time lingers in the corners

of such bars, from the White Sea

to the Gulf of Finland. It’s measured

in elbows and dark mouths.

 

But its home is amongst

the trees, where it

roams from cabin to boathouse.

 

It creaks old floorboards 

sawn slowly

before the Winter War 

and in diseased homes

it spreads its fungal spores

and lies in wait

for advancing armies.

 

++++++++++++++++++++

 

In the last town

before the crossing point

a shop sign reads

    katalo / рыбый дом 

Fish are laid out

in the chiller;

whose water passed

through their gaping gills?

 

Time moves on

across the pulp mill road,

through birches

and blueberries,

past dozing mosquitoes.

It ruffles a lake,

and naked people surface.

Certificate PG
Poem

Comments

Submitted by VeraClark on

I'm in love with your poetry. This is gorgeous, the way you manage to hold a moment is skilled, a whole period drawn in choice words.

 

Submitted by Pat G on

I feel very flattered. Thank you so much for the kind words.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Such a beautiful sense of time and place.  Wonderful writing.

Submitted by Pat G on

Thank you Philip. So encouraging.

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Full of stunning, standout lines but by no means just those - a wonderful atmosphere I just can't touch. You move from claustrophobia to expanse in a few short words.

 

Submitted by Pat G on

Your thoughts are really appreciated. Thank you.

Submitted by EB on

Truely atmospheric and soporific. Loved the lazy beer bubbles and dozy mosquitos. 

'Time moves on

across the pulp mill road,

through birches

and blueberries,

past dozing mosquitoes.' 

Paints a picture of wandering through memories. 
 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

By request, this beautiful poem is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Get a fantastic reading recommendation everyday

 

Submitted by Pat G on

Thank you for that honour, and for the cherries.

Submitted by Bee on

Loved this - especially the last. Beautiful!

Bee