stravaganza

Gold cherry

By Di_Hard

Sat, 22 Apr 2023
  • 1795 reads
22 comments
 

let off horizon's leash, sun

casts hungrily through bare trees

till shadow's cowered, tight-

bowerered in honeysuckle

stalks on a stumped giant, lithe-

spiring to flesh empty air 

 

over a red admiral 

at warm's alarm, recalling ... 

flight! Venturing out, bright-stiff

wings soaks Up power for Life's trade -

sleep's safe for dazzling danger

 

where boisterous bumblebees'

low buzzing business betweens

nest site possibilities

as future astronauts might

explore a planet, hopeful

 

while high's a sound bonananza

for all lotteries are won

today as song, far more rich

than coins of gold and silver

thrill in spills, through tree fingers

bounce, uncounted as blackbirds 

robins, warblers, finches, tits

from tiny hearts in feathers'

flickering proclaim Spring IS

 

and first grafitti artist

hawthorn's quick green, fine as spray

spells Change through mossy arches

of birch, willow, sycamore

till these, too, brave defiance

of Winter's grey dominion

 

soon prim-closed russet bud-lips

open all round, kissing blue 

sky in a hero's welcome

 

but Beware another brightness -

Fire licking! Teenagers laugh

in their wild time, belong too  -

eyes shining, girls' walk, swing hipped

as boys dance round them, entranced

unknowing by April's wish 

                  *

now, cooling, on woods' far side 

in dusk, a couple. She looks

outwards longing for home, then

with smiling eyes to his back

bent,  muddy hands tearing roots

(metal detector thrown down)

finding long rusty beer cans

 

for treasure's in memory

here, grown in Light, together

 

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It must have taken some time to record all these thoughts. Delight and the sheer speed and beauty exploding out conveyed!

 song, far more rich than coins of gold and silver thrill in spills, through tree fingers bounce, uncounted as blackbirds robins, warblers, finches, tits from tiny hearts in feathers' flickering proclaim Spring IS

I so easily don't notice the birdsong, but one morning I heard outside the bedroom, and thought how rich and indescribable it was.

first grafitti artist hawthorn's quick green, fine as spray spells Change through mossy arches

brought to mind that delight when the flush of green on the hawrthorn hedges, and the contrast with the slower trees.

Was left a bit wondering about the last two incidents! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for reading and your very thoughtful comment Rhiannon! It is really kind of you to give your time to tell me which bits you like and I greatly appreciate it because I love your Nature poems :0) You are right, it took ages to write, but that is because I am spending so long on photos at the moment - the stuff in this poem was a beautiful day near Easter, when I was photographing in the woods as usual and thinking how to describe it, then heard/saw the teenagers :0) Then, when they had gone (very politely not mentioning the bonkers woman lurking about with a camera) and it was getting darker, I was nearly on the firm path out of the woods when I saw two people, the man was detectoring and the lady patiently and with amusement, waiting while he dug. The thing is, people are always metal detecting, and never find anything, I don't know if rich people went in the woods at the back where it is wild, and often boggy, so guess found metal is from camping, or drinking etc. What the teenagers went to the woods for, and what they found, and what the man was looking for and what he found, and what I find, which that day, included them?

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

So easy not to notice the riches around us, and the real discoveries to be made! Rh

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

yes :0) Lots of kinds of riches

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

this is stunning Di - It must be such s beautiful sight in your woods (well, I know it is from your pics!)
I particularly love watching butterflies as they rest, with their wings spread, soaking up the sun for strength before flying, don't you?

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

yes! But I am HOPELESS at photographing them, I DO HOPE no one saw me scrambling about trying to photo the bumblebees and butterfly!!!!!!! Thankyou very much for the cherries :0)

 

Submitted by celticman on

extravaganza indeed. much of the seasons, much of the days, in every way. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou CM, was not sure if there were too many different strands. Very glad if you think it is ok

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Another beautifully mastered poem from you Di.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou very much Jenny

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

A poem to hearld a spring day's awakening; all the parts fluid, building on the moments and creating a picture in words, as beautiful as a monet painting. I particularly loved your descriptive images in this passage: "and first grafitti artist, hawthorn's quick green, fine as spray, spells Change through mossy arches of birch, willow, sycamore, till these, too, brave defiance ,of Winter's grey dominion"

Beautiful poem, so glad you posted it, thank you Di-Hard. smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for your lovely comment Penny, that is really kind :0)

 

Submitted by marandina on

"..here a red admiral wakes

at warm's alarm, recalls.... flight!"

 

The poem reads like an artist's notebook at times. So much going on. You bring the sights and colours to life so well interwoven with snap shots of human interraction in real time. It did make me think of the pics you post on FB.

A highly-skilled piece of work this is, Di. Paul

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou Paul! Am feeling like I am getting to know the woods better because of looking every day even when it was horrible and bleak, makes Spring even more exciting :0)

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Beautiful, Di. It's our Pick of the Day. Do share on Facebook and Twitter. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Oh! Thankyou so much, Rachel :0) Just got back and this is a lovely surprise!

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

and vivid. You could have rested on the thoughtful descriptions alone, but

"...but Beware another brightness -

Fire licking!"

plus discarded cans for the treasure seeker.

Perhaps a presage of another searingly hot summer and the thoughtlessness of man for his environment?

Enjoyed

Lena x

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for your very kind comment, Lena. I hope it will not be so hot this year! Though April is much drier here than it used to be. I put out several fires last Summer that had been left smouldering, but on this occasion was ok

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

I love the first line and from there all the fine details unfold, sparkling nature, reality and clever metaphors. Tiny hearts in feathers is all the promise of spring in a sentence. Very well done and one to return to.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for your very kind comment Jane :0) I have persuaded/pestered with emails the Trust who own the wood to put up signs hoping to deter chainsawing. As there is obviously no cctv in the middle of a woods, I thought cctv could stand for crazy camera toting virago :0)

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Di

You have such a gift with words, and how to place them for maximum  benefit.  Your poetry is very special.

Jean Day

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for your very kind comment Jean :0) I hope today is a good one for you