08-07-2012, 05:24 PM
Revision
A half-ploughed field haunted, two tractors abandoned
betoken the future. Agricultural labour
has paused for a cider and a piss in the ditch;
a puff on a pipe to turn matters over,
late afternoon slumber in the shade of a hedge.
Light dapples a tree stump and lends the appearance
of fairy enchantment or deer at a distance;
the cadence of branches, the rhythm of swaying,
melodious birdsong flatters the forest.
Our children and dogs heckle notes of discordance.
Fair-weather features will be tacked to the borders;
defacing the country, they shall in due order
grow beards and moustaches, pimples and glasses,
alter complexion from top to the bottom
for the crosses that count - the plight of the commons.
Tomorrow this birdsong might be too intrusive
or pass by unnoticed like shopping mall music
and trees, grown too tall for bowing and scraping,
snatched from the breach between earth and its ceiling,
will groan for the good of the greater number.
Original
A half-ploughed field haunted, two tractors abandoned
betoken the future. Agricultural labour
has paused for a cider and a piss in the ditch;
a puff on a pipe to turn matters over,
late afternoon slumber in the shade of a hedge.
Dappled light on a tree stump lends the appearance
of fairy enchantment or deer at a distance;
the cadence of branches, the rhythm of swaying,
melodious birdsong flatters the forest.
We bring children and dogs and note the discordance.
Fair-weather features are tacked to the borders,
defacing the country, they shall in their order
grow beards and moustaches, pimples and glasses,
be coloured in every shade of the spectrum;
but it’s crosses that count - the plight of the commons.
How long before birdsong becomes too intrusive
or passes unnoticed like shopping mall music
and trees, grown too tall for bowing and scraping,
are snatched from the breach between earth and its ceiling,
to groan for the good of the greater number?
A half-ploughed field haunted, two tractors abandoned
betoken the future. Agricultural labour
has paused for a cider and a piss in the ditch;
a puff on a pipe to turn matters over,
late afternoon slumber in the shade of a hedge.
Light dapples a tree stump and lends the appearance
of fairy enchantment or deer at a distance;
the cadence of branches, the rhythm of swaying,
melodious birdsong flatters the forest.
Our children and dogs heckle notes of discordance.
Fair-weather features will be tacked to the borders;
defacing the country, they shall in due order
grow beards and moustaches, pimples and glasses,
alter complexion from top to the bottom
for the crosses that count - the plight of the commons.
Tomorrow this birdsong might be too intrusive
or pass by unnoticed like shopping mall music
and trees, grown too tall for bowing and scraping,
snatched from the breach between earth and its ceiling,
will groan for the good of the greater number.
Original
A half-ploughed field haunted, two tractors abandoned
betoken the future. Agricultural labour
has paused for a cider and a piss in the ditch;
a puff on a pipe to turn matters over,
late afternoon slumber in the shade of a hedge.
Dappled light on a tree stump lends the appearance
of fairy enchantment or deer at a distance;
the cadence of branches, the rhythm of swaying,
melodious birdsong flatters the forest.
We bring children and dogs and note the discordance.
Fair-weather features are tacked to the borders,
defacing the country, they shall in their order
grow beards and moustaches, pimples and glasses,
be coloured in every shade of the spectrum;
but it’s crosses that count - the plight of the commons.
How long before birdsong becomes too intrusive
or passes unnoticed like shopping mall music
and trees, grown too tall for bowing and scraping,
are snatched from the breach between earth and its ceiling,
to groan for the good of the greater number?
Before criticising a person, try walking a mile in their shoes. Then when you do criticise them, you're a mile away.....and you have their shoes.