19th January 2012

Driving back from the coast
 the sky melting in three levels of cloud
On the horizon, a striped pink curtain hangs then
Layers of washes, bleeding and running upwards where
high cumulo nimbus, Payne's Grey, almost
solid, dark overhead. Yet the land is illuminated.

Oxford Castle taken by Niamh

18th January 2012

Japanese Garden

Leaves collected in the fall
and put into a press, the better to keep the crimson and orange
of the Japanese maples; and the yellow gold ginkgo fans.
I got them out today
the fall's embers in winter 
and  the bamboo spears still spring green.

17th January 2012

Le debris d'un poete

Le poete
ramasse ses feuilles

 en reprend une
une autre

les poemes

des plumes qui tombent
en l'air

forme d'effraie.




image:  http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/biodiversity/sap_uk/key_species_barn_owl.htm

16th January 2012

sunshine backlit

silver, grey green
the olive leaves tremble

shake in the
frost

15th January 2012

In memoriam

Near the windmill
The sweet chestnut tree
Leafless now, planted
in memory of her mother.

In Lunigiana,
I have seen a chestnut leaf
in the base of each round loaf.

In Spring
we should bake bread.

January 14th 2012

Blood Oranges

A Sicilian fruit.
Oranges, suffused with a modest blush.
Cut them open and they bleed.
But that's our thing.