There’s not so very much I know
There’s not so very much I know
Hard facts I could parade
For gasps of admiration
Almost no dates, bar birthdays
Not how electricity works (though frequently explained)
About a dozen telephone numbers
There’s not so very much I know
Not enough to defend beliefs
Dawkins, locate Jupiter
With her moons
Or turn a green pool blue
But this summer clamorous
I learned to hear the churr-churr calls
Then spot Bee-eaters’ swoop
Flash of yellow, blue and green
Remembered the Scarce Swallowtail
Black and white
Felt the dry stick shock
Of Praying Mantis accidental in my hair
Fell in love with coreopsis
Orange orange orange
Saw how to free a hornet with a jar
To paint the sky and fields
In water colour, pen and ink
Eye-balled sunflowers, face to face
Took first steps in photography
Aperture and shutter speed
In sweet Italian tongue
No matter that it’s not enough
To hold my own, to trump your words
With mine
I’ll wrap my lovely learning
Fragile facts
With tender loving care
Protect them in a poem
Glass bubbles, beautiful and rare
There’s not so very much I know
Hard facts I could parade
For gasps of admiration
Almost no dates, bar birthdays
Not how electricity works (though frequently explained)
About a dozen telephone numbers
There’s not so very much I know
Not enough to defend beliefs
Dawkins, locate Jupiter
With her moons
Or turn a green pool blue
But this summer clamorous
I learned to hear the churr-churr calls
Then spot Bee-eaters’ swoop
Flash of yellow, blue and green
Remembered the Scarce Swallowtail
Black and white
Felt the dry stick shock
Of Praying Mantis accidental in my hair
Fell in love with coreopsis
Orange orange orange
Saw how to free a hornet with a jar
To paint the sky and fields
In water colour, pen and ink
Eye-balled sunflowers, face to face
Took first steps in photography
Aperture and shutter speed
In sweet Italian tongue
No matter that it’s not enough
To hold my own, to trump your words
With mine
I’ll wrap my lovely learning
Fragile facts
With tender loving care
Protect them in a poem
Glass bubbles, beautiful and rare
5th September 2010, Hounoux, for all of us women
You certainly do know how to put words on paper in such a beautiful way, that they make us all think.- Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and encouraging response Gill. I've been reading lots of poetry myself lately and know that what I want most of all is to make people think at, least a little, by what I write.
ReplyDeleteI was inspired to write this after a heated - one of many)- conversation around our crowded table, with the chaps, especially my own, who has a phenomenally good memory for facts, leading the talk. Most of the women present couldn't really contribute much in that arena though we have much to say in other types of conversations.
It made me smile Sally, just so spot on particularly tonight! Not sure about Jupiter but do know the difference between Venus and Mars!
ReplyDeleteps. the code word to verify my last comment to post was 'conect'. Spot on, it was nice to feel that too. xx
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that when my poems are published I get something in my inbox- as you probably do too- stating that
ReplyDelete' This message looks very suspicious to our SmartScreen filters, so we've blocked attachments, pictures, and links for your safety.'
I would love all my poetry to be dangerous- what a compliment!
Shall we start a 'post menopause but not past feminism' movement"!?
ReplyDelete