The Catch of the Soft Lamp
When lightening strikes the Holly Tree the fierce discharge
passes
through the densely fibred white wood trunk, through the
branches,
twigs, leather shined leaves and out in little electric
threads from each spine
upon those leaves.
The whole of the Holly must be fired in a tracery
of blinding lace, an instant seared to the closed lids of
any woodland watchers.
If a Holly Tree was struck in the heart of a Holly grove
perhaps the touching
familial trees would each pass on the dissipating bolt,
carrying that weakening charge
farther from its source, until a feeble spark is caught in
the corner of an eye
on the copse’s edge; some weary farmer at the end of day drawing
shut the drapes
against the wind, seeing only that last flake of glitter fading
to the ground
and barely questioning its flash, thinking it the catch of
the soft lamp
in a rain drop on the pane, flung to near distance by some
trick of this wild dark.
Whilst above it all the mistle thrush throws out its lonely
storm freed song.
Extraordinary, Emma
ReplyDeleteExtraordinary, Emma
ReplyDeletefascinating
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