This morning in the fitful early light
Beyond the near, familiar scene I saw,
Beyond the cherries, pines and copper beech,
Beyond the pitch of roofs, a further tree,
Distant, unmarked before, which now emerged,
Shining against grey cloud, ethereal,
Its thinning leaves light green and touched with gold.
Its fragile beauty, knocking at my heart
Spoke of mortality and human lives
Bearing bright flowers, though destined for the dark
And seeds to ripen for eternity.
Sheila Durbin
Sheila Durbin’s book of collected poems, ‘Catching the Light’, is now available, price £3.50, from LivingStones Bookshop in Fleet Road, Fleet, or by contacting John Gibbons on 01252 614200.