Poem of the Month

 

A new poem will be placed here each month, usually from one of my published collections.

 

My poem for August 2017, is called Tree Triolets, my first attempt at the triolet form. The trees in question are all in my garden in Radnorshire, Powys.

 

Tree Triolets

 

i.

 

The oak has scattered its seed, careless breeder,

Letting a gang of lesser trunks cluster,

like pushy swine, pressing the bars of their feeder.

The oak has scattered its seed, careless breeder,

and a platoon of small offspring untidily muster

like undisciplined troops without a firm leader.

The oak has scattered its seed, careless breeder,

Letting a gang of lesser trunks cluster.

 

ii

 

Savagely pruned, the plum’s slow to recover,

until it fights back with a burst of fruit,

boughs bent like an arched and ardent lover.

Savagely pruned, the plum’s slow to recover,

but this season, at the soft skins, the wasps hover;

should any survive I’d say is moot.

Savagely pruned, the plum’s slow to recover,

until it fights back with a burst of fruit.

 

iii

 

The thrashing wind has brought down boughs

from the tall ash where the nuthatch crawls.

Through every branch the gale soughs.

The thrashing wind has brought down boughs

each limb out of joint wherever it falls

like a sleeper tumbled out of his drowse.

The thrashing wind has brought down boughs

from the tall ash where the nuthatch crawls.