The Heronning

Gold cherry

By onemorething

Thu, 24 Apr 2025
  • 408 reads
12 comments
 

I wrote it on the storm cloud

of a heron's wing and watched it travel

the eel-wend of the river,

with the hernshaw's promise:

she knows the words for water.

Carry my poem,

this heronning, 

a plea for tenderness,

a new beginning.

She is girdled by harrow,

eyes patrol, her weapon drawn,

she ploughs an empty river

in a skirl of wind,

in the defiance of living,

in the April rain

which still bears the icesharp

of a winter past. 
 
Painting is a lovely Hans Thoma in the public domain. Hernshaw is an old name for a heron.

Certificate U
Poem
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Poem and painting both as beautiful and graceful as each other - thank you onemore

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks so much, insert! x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I liked 'eyes patrol', 'skirl of wind' and 'April rain which still bears the icesharp of a winter past.' Rhiannon

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Glad you liked those things, Rhiannon, thanks for reading it! :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rachel,

this was a poem I couldn't resist and thoiught these lines were very astute:-

She is girdled by harrow,

eyes patrol, her weapon drawn,

she ploughs an empty river

in a skirl of wind,

in the defiance of living.

A vivid account of flight that's fraught with danger, but a need to keep going.

Well observed and beautifully written.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Ah thank you, Jenny, so glad you liked it. :)

 

Submitted by marandina on

Beguiling and beautiful. 

That's why this wonderful poem is today's Facebook, X/Twitter & BlueSky Pick of the Day.

Congratulations :)

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks so much, Paul! Thrilled to wake up from my afternoon nap to this news! 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I liked eel wend very much, and the sense of space and bright fresh coolness throughout. Wonderful to have a new poem, Thank you!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Di, happy you enjoyed it, nice to post something new! :)

 

Submitted by vicky on

Great hook with first line

 

Submitted by celticman on

there's nothing empty about this river.