silence
sinks it feet in ground
plants itself humble in the words
(da Costa)
There is a garden that enshrouds you
I was there the other day
bagging a leaf mold harvest
where the sycamore shook itself like a dog
and even without saffron robes
aware of each scrape of tine across gravel
metal on stone – a band of jays mimic the sound
exchanging raucous insults with their cousin crow
Robin heard it too; gleaning with swift surreptitious flights
between the piles. Where I rest, the beady eye
observes and penetrating the bright inky drop in turn
I see a stranger – but call him Bob for company
over the years there have been many such callings
one or other sex no doubt – only they can tell
and all can vouch for the caretaker’s labours
Aquarian bees are absent now. I miss the small swarms
by the dripping tap – they duck head first in gravel
and authorise the filling of the watering can
yet still there is nourishment for the dwindling hive
aromatic scarlet and pale lilac salvia spikes
pin-cushioned asters on long wiry stems
and swags of flowering ivy in the sycamore
even at the excelsus of summer the garden is sedate
nothing loud or eye-wateringly exotic tolerates shade
even at its shallower depths
but scents can be caught between courtyard walls
whites will cool and issue beams like moonlight
evergreens give some assurance of eternity
there is this garden that enshrouds me
from the city clamour just beyond
Opening lines translated from Eduardo Marques da Costa – ” Ha um jardim que te envolve” as Kim invites us to write a poem for her prompt “Johnny’s Garden“
A fine enshrouding, Laura.
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thought of you when leaf gathering yesterday 🙂
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That’s so nice to hear – fellowship of the leaf harvesters 🙂
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The image you paint is how a garden is when it’s at its best.. a haven, or a nest.
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thank you Björn- I’m designer and gardener for this one (do not have my own) and view it as an environmental space which we can share with the creatures that inherit it.
I dislike hearing designers talk about the garden as an outdoor room 😡
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but scents can be caught between courtyard walls
whites will cool and issue beams like moonlight
evergreens give some assurance of eternity
Classic lines Laura! Aroma,coolness and evergreens all are ingredients that keep the balance in beautiful gardens’ setting!
Hank
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thanks Hank – the shade garden tends towards understated beauty – takes time to appreciate
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So beautiful, I’m utterly entranced!
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so glad was able to transmit some of this garden’s magic to you Rosemary 🙂
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Oh, I agree with what you said about gardeners and their ‘outdoor rooms’, Laura! There is so much I love about your garden poem. The fact that you also have a robin makes me want to visit – we have robins too! Some of my favourite lines:
‘where the sycamore shook itself like a dog’
‘Robin heard it too; gleaning with swift surreptitious flights
between the piles. Where I rest, the beady eye
observes and penetrating the bright inky drop in turn
I see a stranger…’
‘Aquarian bees are absent now. I miss the small swarms
by the dripping tap – they duck head first in gravel
and authorise the filling of the watering can’
‘but scents can be caught between courtyard walls’
And I love the closing lines.
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thank you for this prompt Kim – as you can tell I love this garden ❤
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A beautiful imagining of a garden space with a message for us all. Loved it.
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sneaked in some bees especially 😉
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Beautifully written Laura ~
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thank you Grace ❤
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