Tugging at our minds,Always an arms length away.Waiting, lingering...Invading our thoughts,Clouding our minds.Obscuring, repelling...Beckons us closer,But steps backwards.Deceiving, conniving...Steps right up to us,Then disappears.Gone, forever...
Shaking uncontrollably,Trembling in fear.I inflict another,Blinded by tears.Please stop giving,Useless advice.Reasons to create,More scars to hide.Shivering and crying,Suddenly I stop.The world goes blurry,Paralysed with shock.Family members,Gathered around.Someone's coffin,Lowered into the ground.
A world or two.Colours new.Raging seas.Swamped trees.Shining light.Creating might.Crashing storms.Banishing warmth.A flicker or flame.Calling my name.Summoning rain.Unearthly pain.Dying hands.Tornadoes of sand.Flesh rotting.Stop creating.
Consulting summer's clock,But half the hours remain.I ascertain it with a shock --I shall not look again.The second half of joyIs shorter than the first.The truth I do not dare to knowI muffle with a jest.
The frog half fearful jumps across the path,And little mouse that leaves its hole at eveNimbles with timid dread beneath the swath;My rustling steps awhile their joys deceive,Till past,--and then the cricket sings more strong,And grasshoppers in merry moods still wearThe short night weary with their fretting song.Up from behind the molehill jumps the hare,Cheat of his chosen bed, and from the bankThe yellowhammer flutters in short fearsFrom off its nest hid in the grasses rank,And drops again when no more noise it hears.Thus nature's human link and endless thrall,Proud man, still seems the enemy of all.
The Winters are so short --I'm hardly justifiedIn sending all the Birds away --And moving into Pod --Myself -- for scarcely settled --The Phoebes have begun --And then -- it's time to strike my Tent --And open House -- again --It's mostly, interruptions --My Summer -- is despoiled --Because there was a Winter -- once --And al the Cattle -- starved --And so there was a Deluge --And swept the World away --But Ararat's a Legend -- now --And no one credits Noah --