. 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