Like your deer that robin did indeed flutter in and startle me while I was knee deep in the dirt! Incredible how sometimes they can be so direct and social when you are out in the garden. Kept hopping around waiting for me to throw him a worm. 😅
Completely agree. I have another draft of a solemn moment recently when clearing out a house that one appeared on the wall out the back and kept near to us as we were working.. we all looked at each other and thought there must be something in that... And then this little dude appeared again here.
I think it was mentioned in another comment, but the Robin has a knack of appearing and being so familiar and friendly. Unafraid almost. They came that day anyway, said hello. 😊
Yes! I always see the Robin as a messenger - reminding us that happiness is near, surrounding us in the beauty of nature 🪺
Just like the little rabbits on the Welsh hills - familiar yet with a hint of hesitancy. Daring when your back’s turned, yet demure as you stand and observe. 🐇
The first stanza took me in the direction of the mind as a garden - the unearthing that sometimes happens in moments of clarity, the deep digging that can occur when we have the time and space and support to look at what's below the surface and observe. In your observations of the natural world, I felt the similarities in moments where I've uncovered what lies below, what is at the root of a pattern of thought or way in which I react. Understanding the soil, understanding our minds - the process doesn't feel all that different to me. Perhaps why digging in the dirt feels so meditative to me; quiet, observation, surprise, small understandings - they all feel present to me in this poem.
Yes, certainly in that time spent digging and uncovering all that there was a cathartic element to it all. I find gardening, or perhaps any manual work that involves some level of discovery and concentrantion and flow to have that effect. Meditation indeed and ultimately a good thing, I think, to put the mind at ease.
I sometimes struggle to connect with nature poetry, the loveliness of it all. But with this you have me right down there squirming around in the muck with the ketchup sachets and the ick of nature. Love all of this poem.
Great to hear! Yes I know what you mean, it can be a bit much… and yet! And yet, I often find myself transfixed by these bits of nature and drifting into some verse about the greeness of grass or the fullness of a tree… my saving grace ia orobably that i cant resist leering off into some jarring passage about foxes getting drunk on apples or an imaginary conversation about current affairs between a pair of pigeons.
This engages all my senses. I feel like I’m there with you. I’m not sure you need “in my mind” at the end of the first stanza. You’ve told us you’re seeing it and all the other lines are so specific and evocative. Such fabulous words. If I’m out of line, tell me to just be quiet.
Ah sure look, the line was probably bouncing in and out as part of the dance we do to "get it right" in the end. 😅 I appreciate your input and can see also very much your point of view with regards to how the image could already have been established. I feel a different weight to that line is there if you tie it more to the second last line... And thats the dance of poetry... Its a foxtrot or tango perhaps 😂 and in this dance i kept it in.
Its also the reason why i prefer not to engage too much in specifics in the comments... Or even provide extra context with the poems if it doesnt contribute directly to the effect of the poem. They are there to be read and interpreted by each reader and i am just appreciative you took the time. I am also happy you have an opinion on it!! So thanks for sharing, i'll just be likely to nod politely and smile 😊
I woke up in the middle of the night worried I crossed a line I shouldn’t have. I love the poem. Sometimes I forget to take off my editor hat for the day. I’ll start editing books I’m reading. Please accept my apologies. Thank you for telling me to be quiet in a very nice way.
No need to be quiet at all! I think i welcome the comments but just wont engage, at least not in the comment section as its not an ideal spot for that. But please dont hold back if you feel it, as it helps me to get a sense of how others see it.
I agree comments are not the place, especially when it hasn’t been asked for. I think the poem is stunning and I got excited about it. It came from a good place.
Beautifully written and read!! I too have had such visions behind closed eyes, and your poem really brought the wet and green grit of nature into my awareness. Thank you!
It's such a pleasure to read this out loud, feeling the crunch of the words and the weeds.
That is exhilarating to hear you have read it out loud yourself. I feel a barrier broken! Love it. Thanks for sharing that. And thanks for commenting.
What beautiful writing David. The descriptions of the tiniest details are so evocative.
What else is there in those 'finest' of moments, the noticings that fill the senses. Love the prophetic robin at the end.
Like your deer that robin did indeed flutter in and startle me while I was knee deep in the dirt! Incredible how sometimes they can be so direct and social when you are out in the garden. Kept hopping around waiting for me to throw him a worm. 😅
I think robins could be slightly magical, they seem to appear in special moments, as conduits from beyond.
Completely agree. I have another draft of a solemn moment recently when clearing out a house that one appeared on the wall out the back and kept near to us as we were working.. we all looked at each other and thought there must be something in that... And then this little dude appeared again here.
Yep definitely something there.
Definitely!
It's a knowing.
I absolutely love this David! Felt like I was out in the garden with you!
Thanks Rich! Glad i captured that well enough!
The image of the Robin is superb
I think it was mentioned in another comment, but the Robin has a knack of appearing and being so familiar and friendly. Unafraid almost. They came that day anyway, said hello. 😊
Yes! I always see the Robin as a messenger - reminding us that happiness is near, surrounding us in the beauty of nature 🪺
Just like the little rabbits on the Welsh hills - familiar yet with a hint of hesitancy. Daring when your back’s turned, yet demure as you stand and observe. 🐇
The first stanza took me in the direction of the mind as a garden - the unearthing that sometimes happens in moments of clarity, the deep digging that can occur when we have the time and space and support to look at what's below the surface and observe. In your observations of the natural world, I felt the similarities in moments where I've uncovered what lies below, what is at the root of a pattern of thought or way in which I react. Understanding the soil, understanding our minds - the process doesn't feel all that different to me. Perhaps why digging in the dirt feels so meditative to me; quiet, observation, surprise, small understandings - they all feel present to me in this poem.
Yes, certainly in that time spent digging and uncovering all that there was a cathartic element to it all. I find gardening, or perhaps any manual work that involves some level of discovery and concentrantion and flow to have that effect. Meditation indeed and ultimately a good thing, I think, to put the mind at ease.
Thanks so much for the comments and for reading!
All my senses are engaged in your poem, David. Beautiful!
Wow thank you! Thanks for the comment and delighted you are feeling it!
I sometimes struggle to connect with nature poetry, the loveliness of it all. But with this you have me right down there squirming around in the muck with the ketchup sachets and the ick of nature. Love all of this poem.
Great to hear! Yes I know what you mean, it can be a bit much… and yet! And yet, I often find myself transfixed by these bits of nature and drifting into some verse about the greeness of grass or the fullness of a tree… my saving grace ia orobably that i cant resist leering off into some jarring passage about foxes getting drunk on apples or an imaginary conversation about current affairs between a pair of pigeons.
So i think it levels out in the end.
This engages all my senses. I feel like I’m there with you. I’m not sure you need “in my mind” at the end of the first stanza. You’ve told us you’re seeing it and all the other lines are so specific and evocative. Such fabulous words. If I’m out of line, tell me to just be quiet.
Ah sure look, the line was probably bouncing in and out as part of the dance we do to "get it right" in the end. 😅 I appreciate your input and can see also very much your point of view with regards to how the image could already have been established. I feel a different weight to that line is there if you tie it more to the second last line... And thats the dance of poetry... Its a foxtrot or tango perhaps 😂 and in this dance i kept it in.
Its also the reason why i prefer not to engage too much in specifics in the comments... Or even provide extra context with the poems if it doesnt contribute directly to the effect of the poem. They are there to be read and interpreted by each reader and i am just appreciative you took the time. I am also happy you have an opinion on it!! So thanks for sharing, i'll just be likely to nod politely and smile 😊
I woke up in the middle of the night worried I crossed a line I shouldn’t have. I love the poem. Sometimes I forget to take off my editor hat for the day. I’ll start editing books I’m reading. Please accept my apologies. Thank you for telling me to be quiet in a very nice way.
No need to be quiet at all! I think i welcome the comments but just wont engage, at least not in the comment section as its not an ideal spot for that. But please dont hold back if you feel it, as it helps me to get a sense of how others see it.
I agree comments are not the place, especially when it hasn’t been asked for. I think the poem is stunning and I got excited about it. It came from a good place.
Oh i know! Thanks so much for reading and getting involved! I really mean it, means a huge amount.
Well written, David. 💯🙌
Thanks so much for dropping in and commenting Nuezen!
Beautifully written and read!! I too have had such visions behind closed eyes, and your poem really brought the wet and green grit of nature into my awareness. Thank you!
Thanks so much mike. Yes i was working at it all day and closed my eyes as I went to bed and its all i could see 😂