Winter went too far that year
like a friend who shows her ugly side,
as heedless as some smartphone fuck in a bookstore
as numb and hard as a cop's baton.
Southern beauty, transplanted lady
brought here as a baby,
my English walnut tree was shivered--shocked--
a dazed involuntary wandering the halls of summer for years after.
This year, unfed, the bandit squirrels stopped knocking down
her new growth bouquets.
This year her gown is lush, her branches heavy with baubles,
the first walnuts in five years.
I love to sit beneath her, bathed in green
and the susurration of her clustered feathers.
No silent era star wearing ostrich plumes
could compete with her now--she preens in the pleasant weather.
This spring, she is an Impressionist lady
holding a parasol over me as I am shivered--shocked--
by my country showing her ugly side
my sanctuary soft and sweet, the future hard as a cop's baton.
for Dverse--"A View of One's Own" hosted by Dora.
The images are taken by me, of the walnut tree in my yard.
Music: Glee cast Don't Make Me Over
I love that your "Southern beauty" has recovered from her hard knocks, Shay, wearing her "lush gown" and you sitting beneath her parasol, as in a sanctuary. The note you end on circles back to our common concern, to wonder how we'll weather these days, how we'll come back five years hence, weaker or stronger.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you joined in the prompt, Shay. I may seem to have disappeared into the ozone, blog-wise, but only on a break.
Your personification of winter is spot on, Shay, she can be like that sometimes, going too far and showing her ugly side. I try to avoid her, especially when she upsets my trees. I’m so glad your Southern beauty recovered.
ReplyDeleteYour tree is glorious! "...the future hard as a cop's baton" truly expresses the moment we are in. This ugly side is hard to see and live through. I am running out of words about it. I love to picture you "bathed in green and the susurration of her clustered feathers." Some solace, balm for the spirit.
ReplyDeletenaturally, i noticed your labels-- specifically, i hate topical poetry. hah! but you did paint a fine picture :)
ReplyDeleteWow. Your personification of both winter and your tree is perfect. Would that our entire country had her shelter..
ReplyDeleteThis is so haunting! (bigfatcanofworms)
ReplyDeleteA subtle and well-crafted exercise in metaphor. I'm afraid the bandit squirrels are going to knock down more than just a few leaves and fruits this next time, even if the tree has escaped that fate for now. I especially like the sense of peace and presence you paint with lines like ..bathed in green/and the susurration of her clustered feathers..."
ReplyDeleteThe way winter can behave, and a walnut tree don't handle winter well.... (only makes it to some parts of southern Sweden) ... so many images of the tree makes me understand your love for the tree... it's shade and maybe some walnuts for you
ReplyDeleteThis is exquisitely drawn, Shay! I especially like; "I love to sit beneath her, bathed in green and the susurration of her clustered feathers." 🥰
ReplyDeleteTrees can be such wonderful friends and companions! A blessing indeed to have a peaceful place, ongoingly. The 'cop's baton' image is all the more arresting (sic), thwacking down hard to make the point.
ReplyDeleteI don't like it when winter outstays her welcome. Strong metaphors and personification as usual! I agree with Rosemary about the cop's baton imagery. Here's to spring, summer, and your rebounding southern beauty!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lush and beautiful walnut tree. The ending stanza shows the contrasting emotions of softness of the sanctuary and hardness of the future (as a cop's baton). Love the personal share Shay.
ReplyDelete"Winter went too far that year / like a friend who shows her ugly side" - can't go wrong with opening lines like that!
ReplyDelete