PICKINGS

Poetry from NHI publications



THUNDER ON THE LEFT
The sky holds down the heat,
the air weighted
and all the fields to the sea still.

Each step makes
the sea more distant
like the space
growing between us.

A cat in the shade not moving,
a folded fritillary hangs
from a blade of grass.

"Shall we go back?"
I ask. No answer.
then lightning
one — two — three, crash.

Again two flashes
thunder bawling between the hills.
Rain gobs down

each spot making
its print on the tar.
At the fourth flash
we turn

but it is too late.
Racing back your hand
ignores my outstretched palm

and when you reach our lane
you do not wait
but run into the house
taking the storm with you.
PATRICIA BISHOP
from
Aabye issue A

Next poem
Previous poem

Pickings
NHI home page
Books
Magazines
email the author
read a review of a book by the author

Web design by Gerald England
This page last updated: 24th November 2005.