Friday, July 10, 2009

tidal



it has a rhythm and pattern all its own
grief

hidden and unpredictable
it catches offbalance
shifts pebbles underfoot
transforms the landscape

it ebbs and flows
grief
set not by moon but in its own secret particular irregularity

it waves and washes
grief
crashing and seeping
changing everything

and withdraws
leaving shine, 
patterns, 
sometimes treasures 
carefully cast up on the wet shifting shingle



© Sally Alsford 2009

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

sussex walk








shocking yellow shine clamours behind the treeline
beyond our cool damp tunnel between fields 

its only prosaic dusty bramble and elder
transformed by buttery hot sunshine 
loud, lime and glowing beyond this compost corridor
this lengthening world of mulch and hush

shadowed and silent
sole interruptions insistent repetitive bird demands
conducting untranslated business above beyond the stretching reach of root and hedgerow

sudden panic of unseen pheasant

the grey-green whiskery silver softness of wheats subverted too by yellowapplegreen shafts
sharp sun giving edge to blade and ear
the secret spider's web precarious worlds transfixed by light

on a secretly discovered pond
one downy duckling scurries out of sight
posturing unicyclist jetski-propelled
zipping skimming like the not-quite-settling light
hovering untouching over the water's placid solidity


swathes of disco-ball dappling
sweep
seep
scattering through the shade
puddling like rain in discs and drops of light
shimmer in the dim dankness

sifting the leaves
shifting the shadows




© Sally Alsford 2009

Saturday, April 04, 2009

bluebells



spring's painful loveliness splinters
the dry
sticky dark


softly insinuates betwixt the cracks of winter
charming its forceful gentleness into the heart of things

audacious
unstoppable
predictable and quiet


wiggles and stretches uncurling inchoate

half born




brashly and tentative
slowly rushing and stamps its way breath held


or is it my breath?

held
laid
resting.


brave
fool-hardy
exquisitely frangibly tough

the bluebells break my heart


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