.
Green leaves
rise through the earth
unfurling from embryonic seeds
instinctively reaching for the sun
while nature nourishes
each blind need
Kittens
cavort in a garden
playfully pawing
petals
Butterflies
brighten the meadow
trusting their delicate wings
flitting to land on pink lunches
as they battle each
rushing breeze
Eagles
alight on trees
flying free, soaring high
ignoring blossoms that
bloom and die
Tall trees
broaden their branches
preparing to reproduce
before leaves
fall
I
hefted
my gaining weight
across transmuting phases
of embryo, kitten, butterfly, eagle.
I have played out the part of tree.
Finally acknowledging mortality
I liken it to a seasonal fruit
whose roots must wither
to make room for
fresh plants
to bloom
and
g
r
o
w
.
While this poem has only a tenuous connection to it, it was inspired by something my brother copied down many years ago. I think he heard it on the Sonny and Cher Show. Maybe it was set to music, maybe not. Snatches of it often play in my mind, and yet I can find no record of it anywhere. It speaks of the ego of youth – the feeling that the world is yours, and you can do anything. Here are a couple of stanzas:
Look at you, look at me,
standing ten feet tall are we.
Look at them, look at us
wondering why they make such fuss.
Look at me then look again
and maybe you’ll remember when
you stood this tall and knew it too,
and the whole world turned to look at you.
Does anyone recognise it? It would make my day if I could get a full copy.
Also, I’d really appreciate an honest critique of my poem. I’ve been battling with it for days, and I’m still not sure whether it works. You can pull out all the stops; if it is weak, I’d prefer to know.
©Jane Paterson Basil
Making it write 