Days in Magic May
And I opened the eyes
you’ve been opening ever since;
from the sweet wafts of mayflower,
whose banks of pure white
herald the long summer days,
to the sudden sight
of all manner of flies,
all busy living their fast fuse lives.
You’d point to the swifts swooping close,
yet so completely removed:
how could we comprehend
a life spent solely in the sky?
But you spoke to me in magic—
the old names for flowers and trees
sitting soft in lush landscapes,
either lost or quite alien now
poem and image © copyright df barker 2012
Ah, what sweet magic the old folk names are for the plants and trees and flowers and bugs and birds of approaching Summer Solstice! Love this one, DF! Enchanted forests you have planted in my mind!
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So lovely, capturing a bit a May in a few words.
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I felt like I was there.. just lovely again, I always look forward to reading your poems, I really do!
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Hi,
Very nice poem, a bit different, I love it. 🙂
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David, a beautiful poem – made me sigh deeply at all of your imagery. (I like the “fast fuse lives” of the flies – clever description!)
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Thank you Betty!
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Thank you mags!
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Thank you very much, I appreciate it!
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Thank you Victoria!
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Thanks very much GB!
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So lovely.
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of all manner of flies
all busy living their fast fuse lives
this part is fantastic, David, in that I can read it both literally and metaphorically and it gives me two different outlooks on what you are wanting to express with this poem. I love the couplets and the formal feel that lends, and the flow is very satisfying to read. I can feel the buzz of summer days.
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“And I opened the eyes
you’ve been opening ever since;”
Says God to me. I chose to open my eyes and He has kept me seeing ever since. Beautiful!
Scott
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enchanting, delightful poem, David.
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Hi David, this is an intruiging poem, and very well done! Lovely lush! 🙂
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🙂 Thank you so much Emma – I have really come to appreciate your comments, your are very kind indeed.
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Thank you Ina!
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Thank you very much Francina!
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Thank you very much Scott! And bless you!
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Thank you very very much!
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This poem creates an Ah! moment of contemplation for many months of May experienced & hopes for another & another…
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“But you spoke to me in magic—
the old names for flowers and trees”
This line is perfection, David, and the poem and painting are equally beautiful. 🙂
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Hi. I like the stanza containing..’ the old names for flowers and trees’. Jane
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Thank you very much Jane!
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Tim, thank you so much!
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Lindy, thank you so much!
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Of course. 🙂
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Oh, the painting is magical…draws me right down that leafy lane, David! The poem is very fine too, and one of the lines I most love is:
‘how could we comprehend
a life spent solely in the sky?’
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