The Man Who Did

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Tue, 31 Dec 2013
  • 1267 reads
6 comments
 
He could neither read, nor write, and so,
in a boyish sort of way, he was 
my kind of hero.
 
Drove lorries in the olden days,
and now, for his sins, he’d confessed,
he’d turned his hand to odd-jobbing, and
poetry, when he had the time. 
 
But how could that be, I asked, 
with all the tact of a ten year old...not if,
by his own admission, he’d never
been to school.
 
Dared him to show me; at which 
he’d thrown open wide his arms, as if
to embrace the whole glorious shebang
of that mid-summer’s afternoon...
 
did the man who taught me how to find
haiku in the swish of a fishing line –
sonnets in the sweep of the sky –
the loam of the land 
 
and poetry, writ best, he said,
by the shudder of the wind
in the pines.
Certificate U
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This is one of those haunting poems Tina,  especially in those last three lines. Loved the way you express the influence of one who is admired by another.

Another enjoyable read.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Jenny.  I'm so pleased you enjoyed, and were able to see right through to the heart of this poem.  

A very happy New Year to you and yourssmiley

Tina 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Somehow I missed this gem. Those last two stanzas are exceptional and lovely to say out loud.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you, so much, Beesmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Reminded me of Tammylan in The Cherry Tree Farm books!! This is such a refreshing statement towards formal education as well. The passage of poetic skill is heartwarming. Last verse is my favourite.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks for reading this, Vera, and I agree with you about those Cherry Tree bookssmiley

Tina