We know August by how yellow our bedroom at dawn,
how rich the paints nature daubs outside our window –
blue slash of sky, ribbons of hedge, poppies, gold flag of corn.
Our bedroom eyes this van Gogh view, our window
a silent watcher of that instant our eyes never capture
when the golden flag is branded by three concentric rings.
Circles are an interruption we expect this time of year,
as certain as swallows flying south in autumn.
Blind portholes to a secret place.
I like to walk in the corn,
so tall it sways
above my head.
All I see
is gold spears,
blue sky,
escape.
You can’t see the crop circles at ground level
only the shock of crushed, broken corn.
Village talk grows like mistletoe.
Whispers of alien landings.
We are divided.
He says bored teenagers, me, night winds,
a mini tornado, twisting in perfect geometry.
When wind blows, it laps at ears of corn and I think
of stones dropped in a still lake. On the surface,
ring ripples spread like village rumours.
When sunlight torches water, it makes a window
to below, and you can watch
small pebbles
somersault
and
sink.
Seven league boots, I say, someone night-walking.
On tiptoe so they don’t disturb us sleeping.
Sometimes my mouth is an open window to ideas
best kept secret. His mouth shapes a capital O,
shimmers a smirk. When he laughs, I hear seagulls.
But when he is gone, boy-racing his quad bike
in determined swipes over the back field
and I am up to my elbows in pigswill,
I try stepping large, balanced on my toes.
I wonder how far is seven leagues,
and where my other foot might fall?
First published in a fine line, New Zealand Poetry Society magazine, March 2019
It’s so rare that I see poetry these days. I love when it presents itself. Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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Beautifully written, Trish! You have a way with words and your poem is lovely.
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Great poem, Trish. You are indeed very creative and you have wide imaginations, which I really appreciate.
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Thank you!
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You have said in the best way ever Trish! Great poem.
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This is a beautiful poem, you can picture everything perfectly in your head.
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Beautiful words that you used here and incorporating the literary elements made reading so powerful!
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Thank you
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Beautiful poem. It is a reminder to me that people see things in different perspectives. Neither right nor wrong, just differently.
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Thank you
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Beautiful poem! It made me want to stop and take in my surroundings.’
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I love the way you write! You kept me engaged the entire time!! What an interesting topic to write a poem about as well! I really enjoyed this:)
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Just awesome Trish. Loved it. So beautifully expressed.
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Thank you!
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Really beautiful words and congratulations on getting it published!
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Thank you!
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This open is so beautifully written it took me to a different world. 😍 Keep up the good work. 😊
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Thank you.
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what a beautifully written poem! reminds me of my childhood days when i used to love reading and writing poetry. you are inspiring me to get back into it!
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Thank you! I hope you do take it up again.
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So lovely and so evocative. I felt transported to August, my favourite month.
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Thank you
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Beautiful words Trish and you picked such an interesting subject to write about!
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Thank you. I owe this one to my daughter, who suggested I write about… apples! i did intend to but this came out instead!
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You really have a great ability to bring the images to life. Great poem. Thank you.
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Thank you!
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Very well written Trish. I love the picture you painted. It was very easy to see in my mind’s eye.
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Thank you! I always have such a clear visual picture of what I am writing about, it’s nice to know it transfers to the reader too.
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Wow! I love the imagery and figurative language in this poem. There’s so much to take in from the alliteration of “small pebbles somersault and sink” to the Van Gogh allusion. Great job!
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Thank you!
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I really love this poem, Trish. And fantastic that it was published in a fine line
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Thank you. I was very excited!
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