They say that a robin is a sign,a visit from a loved onefrom the other side. Chill January breathhaunts me on the anniversaryof my mother’s death, her favourite bird follows meround the garden,cocks its head and eyes me, leaves invisible spoorsacross a blank page,a love letter of sorts carving a pain in my heart,lingering grief […]
Category: Poems
A poem to sum up my feelings in this post.
A Clattering of Sorrows
It began as a muffled splash in a half-flooded field,became chyak-chyak and chattering echoesin the January vacuum,then exploded into black ink,splattering Rohrschach blots against the winter-grey sky:a clattering of sorrows.I counted thirteen jackdaws. By Kim M. Russell, 9th January 2024 Image by Alexei Zaitcev on Unsplash Written on the anniversary of my mother’s death, for […]
Searching for Dark Matter
We could search the skywith the naked eyeor the ocean bedbut, when all is said, there’s enough darkmatter in a symphony,a masterpiece of art,prose or poetry. What the eye can’t seein heaven or below the sea,is hidden deepin our hearts and souls. Why do we feel the needto explore black holes(or alcohol in dark bars)for […]
We are not turnstones
It is on such days as thesethat I love to be beside the sea, watching rollers hit the shore,Nature’s power, nothing more than waves and wind, and turnstonestripping and skipping among fishbones, seaweed and shells, not unlike Sisyphus,pushing, shoving, turning – showing us not how our lives must be, but howtenacity can get us from […]
Peace Acrostic
Peace can be found in my garden,Except for the occasional tune of a robinAloft in the willow, or the breath of windChilling leafless trees; a reminder thatEven birds and plants need some peace – like me. Kim M, Russell, 29th December 2023 Image by Joseph Watson on Unsplash Susan is hosting What’s Going On? this […]
Mince Pies for Lucas
My five-year-old grandson enjoys a Christmas treat of crumbly little pies filled with sweet mincemeat. Mince pies that are simple and always taste best don’t have soggy bottoms and have extra fruit and zest. My husband’s not a fan and I can leave or take thembut, like grandmothers before me, I would like to bake […]
Why a Pear Tree?
Why would I bein a pear tree?On the first dayof Christmas, too.I am a farm bird,a runner in fields,and wouldn’tappeal to you.I’m not as brightas a pheasant,and not quiteas cute as a quail;my body is grey,but my face is pleasant,blushing reddish, the same as my tail. Kim M. Russell, 12th December 2023 Image by Bruce […]
First Snow
The first hint is a flurry of feathers,stitches from embroidered stars. A single flake falls, sparkles in the night,where a pale moon shivers. Morning. All that remains of the flutteringis a single black feather on white – a blackbird’s shadow taken flight. Kim M. Russell, 11th December 2023 Image by Risto Kokkonen on Unsplash It’s […]
Silver Birch
As the last ice age receded, birches set roots in stony ground, pioneers, trees of beginnings, the first in the Ogham alphabet. At Samhain, birch twigs drive out spirits of the old year, and here, at the end of the garden, my goddess grows, silver bark shining in sunlight and shimmering in moonlight, standing tall, […]
Clair de Lune
The lightest note breaksspace with crystal notes and takesmy breath away, like snowflakes spinning around my free-falling soul. Piano keysreverberate and echo in D, cascading angst-filled arpeggiosin a swelling tide of melancholia,a swirling musical oceanus. A spree of naked notes delightspeaking into rolling notesof sadly serious moonlight. And when it’s over, silence glistenswith spectral music […]
