Head buried beneath the wind,
hung, grasping an overhang,
hug the thin bones of wiry tussocks.
At the moor's edge
where the cliff-drop, gnaws at the sky,
a jutting ledge raises it hackles,
fingers scrabble, skinned toes curl
within creaking jawed boots
Turn an ankle here,
and you may fall
unleashed
to die somewhere.
Cling!
Laugh at yourself.
Do not enter your mind,
where your whipped dog cowers.
Categories:
tussocks, poetry,
Form: Free verse
Walking in sailor fields amongst the nettles picking blackberries,
the brambles cut deep savage the mind. Yet the bowl to be filled
the jam to be boiled the bread of hope to be flavourful,
the innocence of it all enhanced by the beauty of this place.
an arcing rainbow
blazon sky holds cotton clouds
wild tussocks frolic
The village shimmers in idyllic peace, the veil of eastern promise
chases the setting sun, bequeath a heavenly sequin blanket, to
lovingly cloak God’s very own. Life had not changed much
in the place, except some men returned leaving their memories
over yonder, while others stayed away their bones to lay within
‘Alien soil.’ ‘England expects.’ Et cetera!
striped bees’ pink clover
rich meadows so verdant wait
wild poppies stand tall
Alas the hurt does not diminish for those left behind, walking alone
in their beloved sailor fields amongst the nettles picking blackberries,
where the sweetest words of love they shared together no more said
only the shadows the silhouettes and these moments truly blest.
dragonfly hunting
dandelion seeds gliding
wild wind song regaled
© Harry J Horsman 2022
A revamped free verse
Categories:
tussocks, memory,
Form: Haibun
From toothed alps to McKenzie High Country
to hardwood alpine forest and fernland,
there rises the jewel Aoraki
out of the jagged ice age peaks so grand.
And polar winds at its rock face below
chill Lake Te Anau’s willow and bluegum,
where the frozen wild lowland tussocks grow
and rainbow river trout and salmon run.
Behold plains and valleys when spring has shone,
hear the cloven hooves scatter asunder,
climb Arthur’s Pass to Milford Track and yon
to glacier and fiord and rolling tundra.
Stretched from Cloudy Bay to Bluff on the sea
thunders the sky father, Ranginui.
Written: April 1996
Categories:
tussocks, places,
Form: Sonnet
twitching noses
in tussocks
of awakened primroses
rummaging on hazel boles
hibernating mammals
poke from the holes
leafless hedgerows
where buds now form
a carpet of white corm
Badgers forage
for food near their sett
renewing
their bracken scented couchette
Sparrow and robin
pair off in twos
as lengthening days
come into view.
aconite open in rays of sun
below yellow catkins
with tails fine spun.
Osier shoots
in green corn camomile
as Spring mornings
begin to smile.
Categories:
tussocks, spring,
Form: Pastoral
W I N T E R
B R E A K S
N A T U R E
A W A K E S
G A R D E N
A S L E E P
&
an oldie reposted
Fields flooded into skating rinks
into which each footstep sinks,
cracking under body weight so
not the best place to skate.
Thawing February of twitching noses
in tussocks of woken primroses.
Rummaging on hazel boles,hibernating mammals
poke from the holes.
Leafless hedgerows , buds now form
a carpet of white corm,
Badgers forage food near their sett
renewing the bracken scented couchette.
Nature pair off in twos
lengthening days come into view.
aconite open in rays of sun
below, yellow catkins tails fine spun.
Osier shoots in green corn camomile
early Spring mornings begin to smile.
Copyright © Brian Strand | Year Posted 2007
Categories:
tussocks, february, word play,
Form: Shape
The Levels
The reeds, like tattered banners limply hung
From slender, ghost-like lances held on high,
Like ancient armies, waiting in the mist
To heed the call, a long lost battle cry.
A steel grey shroud lies thinly on the fields
Whilst scattered tussocks, shoulders weighted down,
Keep vigil 'round the distant gathered host,
Lest any try to steel their winter crown.
Serrated blackthorn hold the picket line
With swirling cloaks to mask a savage blade,
To pierce such light as morning’s sun may throw
Against them, should a charge be quickly made,
Then with the first faint forays of the day
The legions fade, for spring is on the way.
Categories:
tussocks, history, today,
Form: Sonnet
SUNLESS IN NORTH SHIELDS
It’s painful when the sea wind
Drives rain into the eyes
At the end of Yeoman Street,
Where I waited so long for that girl in the yellow raincoat,
Who never came.
Seagulls mocking down distant streets
Of Utrillo roofs and closed doors.
At her absence I became an empty sack of strength.
Instead of a warmth of yellow and an inspiration of kisses,
There was only a solitude of tears.
I squinted against the rain, and the whiff of fish,
And the sunless world -
Rough tussocks sloping down to the murky Tyne,
Row of houses huddled against wind and spray,
Sprouting mushroom chimney pots
With jagged edges like jester’s hats.
...............................................................
Note...North Shields is a small coastal port in North East England, always cold even in summer.
Other poems of mine, similar to this, are available at
https://www.fictionmagazines.com/magazines/five/
Categories:
tussocks, rain, teenage, wind,
Form: Imagism
You are an enchanting cynosure
Beyond my naked eyes could see;
An unbounded briny exposure
Where tiny drops assemble sea;
Unpretentious blustery waves
Evolve from phenomenal ripples;
Flowing endless murmur cripples
Heart deep embedded peeves.
Tuneless prayers by lonely seamen
Resonate in salty humid air;
Buried history at fathom unknown
Sleeps among tussocks somewhere;
Wonder world beneath farthest reef
Inhibited clams and cockles;
Heedfully shape pure white pearls
For jewels to bride in brief.
Though you could not appease
Thirst of a weary sailor;
Every curious eye, you please
By your incessant glamour;
Don't mislead fishermen's sojourns
Bring them soon home safe back;
To vanquish massive ships on wreck
Don't turn gales to hurricanes.
You agitate poet's serene mind
With your uncanny beauty at sunset;
Heavy down pour along monsoon wind,
Roaring thunders echo from south west.
Furious currents push to ashore
Rolling upwelling rummages the floor
Provoking flash sends terrible blow
You,potent queen! Where is your glow?
Swarnapali Liyanage
27/07/2011
Categories:
tussocks, visionary,
Form: Ode
Andean Pampas Grass grows in California.
Its Linnaean binomial is Cortaderia jubata.
This noxious weed disperses far and wide.
With tall stalks and inflorescences, it has nothing to hide.
As an ornamental plant native to South America,
it was introduced inadvertently into California.
I can see tall stalks as much as seven meters in height.
They bend in the breeze as we approach into night.
There are nimbus clouds in the crepuscular sky.
Silhouettes of the tussocks can be seen with my eye.
Bending, but never breaking, I shall see them in the day.
Along this California road, they will continue to stay.
Categories:
tussocks, places
Form: Rhyme
Snowfall so heavy in 'eighty-two
reproduced a Christmas card view.
A biting wind swirled in one foot drifts
over hanging in bridges..makeshift.
The fields flooded into skating rinks
into which each footstep sinks,
cracking under body weight so
not the best place to skate.
Thawing February brings twitching noses
in tussocks of awakened primroses.
Rummaging on hazel boles,hibernating mammals
poke from the holes.
Leafless hedgerows where buds now form
a carpet of white corm,
Badgers forage for food near their sett
renewing their bracken scented couchette.
Sparrow and robin pair off in twos
as lengthening days come into view.
aconite open in rays of sun
below yellow catkins with tails fine spun.
Osier shoots in green corn camomile
as early Spring mornings begin to smile.
Categories:
tussocks, nature, seasons,
Form: Prose Poetry