The Blossom On the Bough

Two sonnets for May, and my muse

The fires are lit, my lover, and the hills
are flickering with little points of light
The sun is set, and deep within the rills
the seeds of stars are littering the night 
The smoke is rising, lover, rising high
in winding spires of ribbons in the air
and in the rivers where the willows cry
and on the leys the ancient druids dare 
to walk, the chalk is glowing. I know you
will never leap the Beltane fires with me
or rise on one May morning in the dew
beside me, spellbound by my poetry  
Or so it seems. But oh, my lover, how  
the blossom burns, so brightly on the bough

The maypole’s up, my lover, on the green
its willow ribbons flutter in the breeze
I would you be my king, and I your queen
for one night only, here beneath the trees 
The hawthorn froths, my lover, in the hedge
the buds are bursting, birds are nesting high
yet still you fly, my hawk, above the edge
of some cold mountain way up in the sky
Come down, or are you wary that a flame
might fall within your feathers, or a spark 
ignite your heart, or god forbid, you came
to want to stay beside me in the dark
It’s so, it seems. But see, my lover, now
the blossom burning brighter on the bough

© Gail Foster 1st May 2018
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

De Beaulieu Avatar
June 8, 2018 at 1:27 PM
hello gail, yes i also see this poem as an ancient Saxon. i also see this poem as a bit romantic. Have a nice day my friend.
Foster Avatar
June 24, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Thank you, Darlene, best wishes to you
Fleming Avatar
May 18, 2018 at 7:48 AM
Fantastic poetry! The first Sonnet reads as if it were an interpretation from an ancient Saxon verse; the second one, with its reference to the Maypole, could almost be Shakespeare himself. Brilliantly conceived, Gail. Best regards! :) john
Foster Avatar
May 18, 2018 at 7:27 PM
Praise indeed! Thank you very much for that, John :)
Cozart Avatar
May 15, 2018 at 11:25 AM
This is gorgeous!
Foster Avatar
May 17, 2018 at 5:33 PM
'Gorgeous' is a great word, thanks!
Sietesantos Avatar
May 6, 2018 at 8:57 PM
Oh how very lovely - a beautiful, loving, romantic piece that I enjoyed reading! Well done, Gail! Best wishes. Pandita
Foster Avatar
May 7, 2018 at 4:30 AM
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Pandita, and thank you for the way you have described my sonnets, much appreciated.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace