That night we dimmed the lights
That night we dimmed the lights
and watched by the east window
the glow on the horizon, low at first.
In brilliant gold spectacular she rose
gilding the chiffon clouds.
We barely spoke as August’s first full moon
floated upwards.
Later from my bed I saw her pause
in the angle of the pane, framed
silver now, unclouded
Queen of that gorgeous night.
6th August 2023 Hounoux
Two friends we have
Two friends we have, both dear, beloved
who left us suddenly this spring
by saddest chance their few last days, same hospital
where Devon glowed
the lanes and fields and woods bright green
and wildflowers in profusion
then burials for both in poignant beauty.
Their two airs
the strong songs they sang
now ended
whilst we for a while sing on
singly and together
their memory, our grief, now part of the pattern
our whole.
Two friends we have, beloved
echoing, interwoven still
and so we know
in no way lost, not gone.
31st July 2023 I.M Sue Pascoe, Neil Jameson
In summer here, the easy-rhyming June
and soon the midpoint central symmetry,
the silence sings
orchestra and chorus hold the tune
song of the morning
before the sun’s too high and pitiless
somewhere still in chalk a hint of moon
waxing.
The white sky’s still and stunned, the pallid
landscape, lovely, languishes.
19th June 2023, Hounoux
Too busy to stay
Not much past ten and already that sun’s high and hot
but in one blessed corner honeysuckle’s dense
It’s overwhelmed the fence
and small shade is thrown.
Just enough for a chair and two cups, the coffee pot
and so I sit with the scent and the breath of air
as the black bees dance.
Then here’s a hummingbird hawkmoth
too busy to stay for my camera
his wings in a whirl, in for nectar, out and onwards
pinned instead in a memory
of heat and stillness, dance and silence, blackcap song
this Monday
magical.
June 5th 2023, Hounoux
May, mourning
The green high hedges of Devon’s complicated lanes
this May after rains
in torrents, dazzle
for many miles a tapestry
with yellow poppies, cow parsley
bluebells and campion.
For our two days here
gathered the five of us in grief
the beauty is a balm
deep blue hot sun a blackbird’s day-long song
and him, our friend, so sudden gone
who was our heart and core
his light and loveliness now part of the pattern
woven in the May
mourning.
May 16th 2023 Hounoux. I.M Neil Jameson.
Love’s story
Everywhere she said
I see him everywhere
the sorrow of it howling, silent on her face
So strange to look and look but find him gone
sixty two years this home, the farm and fields
together work and leisure days
Like Gabriel Oak whenever she looked up
but now, so strange,
his presence and his absence silent
ringing in the rooms.
Love’s story
quiet glory
tolled in desolation brimming
unshed tears.
January 28th 2023 Hounoux
Breath taken
In the chill and the bite
breath-taken tonight
I watched the huge moon rising
a glory in gold untethered afloat
each month’s magic returning
The glow and the glamour gilded the dark
glittering the coal-black night
In the cold and the shiver
ice in the air, astonished
I watched the wonder rising
11th December 2022 Hounoux
