Short Blackthorn Poems

A wise old oak,    the image of a long dead god.
Staves of mystery and fate,   nine horses all unshod.
Ancient youthful rays,   a gray stone palisade.
A sword that has scarce drawn blood,    blackthorn and a bit of nightshade....

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Spring Tanka


      the scented blackthorn
      bursting into sudden bloom -
      new life emerges
      and the slowly warming earth
      nourishes temperate spring


      For the Spring Time Tanka Contest
      by M. L. Kiser


      Syllables counted by howmanysyllables.com...

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a cage made of silver coloured wires
a metal weave and knots
that together have made a bell

the shape so like has no hammer
but a tiny door closed with
a piece of blackthorn

inside a slim branch hangs
from two thin silver
chains. it swings. slow

and without sound as 
the bird was imagined
and so was the song....

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Feb-ru-ary –
Snow-white blossom,
Winter hedgerow shining.

Now September –
Hedgerow harvest:
Sloe-black, slow, black,
Black fruit with purple bloom.

Sloe gin, slow, gin,
Let the alchemy begin.
Blackthorn, black fruit,
Steeped in finest London gin.

Locked in Kilner
In dark cupboard.
Wait till dark December ......


Ruby colour,
Rich aroma.
Delicious sip,
Post-prandial
Christmas dinner nip.

Mike Jones
25 August 2014...

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