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Poetry

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Harry E Wheeler
Harry E Wheeler
Posts: 171
Joined: 3rd Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posted at 11:22 on 22nd June 2008
The Vixen    

Cowed beneath the bramble, vixen lies

Her eyes belie the fear that stirs within

As ears acute detect the Master’s call

His coat of ‘pinque’ taking up the van

He rallies all from high upon his mount

As hooves clatter loud on graveled pave

 

Foxhounds restless in the wait

Their snouts already to the ground

Coats of white, patched black and tan

Excitedly, they mill among the Meet

Aloof Esquires accompanied by Mesdames

Tend finishing touches to highborn-bred attire

 

Morning mist lies still o’er dewy pastures

As man and dog pursue the vixen spoor

The rate of steel-clad hooves exaggerates

And nostrils flared expel spent air

Startled sparrows on thorny hedgerow flee the scene

As once again the Hunter’s horn exhorts

 

The chase and chased display their inborn skills

Down valleys green, and o’er shallow silv’ry stream

The two-toned apprehensive vixen

Seeks refuge ‘neath rising igneous crags

Lone fear is now her accompaniment

As she baulks the canine goal

Deep into her rocky cavern

Unscathed from the liveried horde

She takes respite from the outraged mouths

That threatened to tear her asunder

Awaiting the fall of moonless night

To gain her freedom once again

 **********************

 

And another:

                     Memories of Winter on a Dorset Moor 

                   O! To stroll again on Dorset's rugged moor

                   Of tranquil memories, vivid and so pure

                   Where endless precious hours were often spent

                    And not one isolated moment did I lament             

                    Those momentary things inconsequential       

                    But with each minute, view God's beauty - quintessential.

                    To feel the crisp of frost-covered heather beneath my sole

                    And heed the greens and purple where 'ere I stroll.

                     I felt not, bare-leg’d skin when rent by prickl'd gorse

                     Though ne’er once did I feel anger or remorse

                     At mother nature's loving, playful ways

                     That she bestowed upon me in my bygone days

                     O! To watch again grey smoke billow from the stack

                     Of toy-like engines with carriages, red and black

                     Chugging forward busily on tracks of steel

                     Creating visions haunting and surreal           

                      Over restful, matted heath and moor-land stream

                      Onwards, towards their journeys into nowhere, it would seem

                       Cutting swathes across the isolated heath

                       Their vented steam a-rising from beneath

                       And country folk who ne'er the fare could pay

                       Yet with their eyes enjoy their regal splendour

                       Majestic as an artist's eye would render.

                       They, to pace the hour-long walk along the track

                       From their humble cottages and back

                       To hear the mournful voices of the plover      

                        Exchanging anxious calls to one another

                        When the wat'ry moon begins to slowly wane

                         And icy patterns form upon the window-pane

                         The skaters’ frolics cease upon the frozen pond

                          As Jack Frost puts aside his wintry, magic wand

                          And hoary mists lay still upon the ground

                          He disappears into the night without a sound

                          When the time arrived for all to cease their roaming

                           I would depart for the warmth of home amid the gloaming

 

 

   
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poePremier Member - Click for more info
poe
Posts: 1132
Joined: 26th Oct 2003
Location: England
Posted at 12:43 on 22nd June 2008

Hi Harry and thanks for the beautiful poems. They were brilliant, a joy to read. A very warm welcome to the site.

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Posts:
Joined: 1st Jan 1970
editPosted at 13:10 on 22nd June 2008
Lovely poems Harry and so evocotive. A warm welcome to POE from me too!
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Jo Adams
Jo Adams
Posts: 231
Joined: 23rd Sep 2006
Location: UK
Posted at 14:26 on 22nd June 2008
Agreed - lovely poems.  And welcome from me too Harry
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Ray Stear
Ray Stear
Posts: 1930
Joined: 25th Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posted at 16:08 on 22nd June 2008
On 22nd June 2008 11:22, Harry E Wheeler wrote:
The Vixen

Cowed beneath the bramble, vixen lies

Her eyes belie the fear that stirs within

As ears acute detect the Master’s call

His coat of ‘pinque’ taking up the van

He rallies all from high upon his mount

As hooves clatter loud on graveled pave

Foxhounds restless in the wait

Their snouts already to the ground

Coats of white, patched black and tan

Excitedly, they mill among the Meet

Aloof Esquires accompanied by Mesdames

Tend finishing touches to highborn-bred attire

Morning mist lies still o’er dewy pastures

As man and dog pursue the vixen spoor

The rate of steel-clad hooves exaggerates

And nostrils flared expel spent air

Startled sparrows on thorny hedgerow flee the scene

As once again the Hunter’s horn exhorts

The chase and chased display their inborn skills

Down valleys green, and o’er shallow silv’ry stream

The two-toned apprehensive vixen

Seeks refuge ‘neath rising igneous crags

Lone fear is now her accompaniment

As she baulks the canine goal

 

Deep into her rocky cavern

Unscathed from the liveried horde

She takes respite from the outraged mouths

That threatened to tear her asunder

Awaiting the fall of moonless night

To gain her freedom once again

**********************

 



'The unspeakable, in pursuit of the inedible' as Oscar Wilde famously said!

Excellent  poem.

Ray 

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Ron Brind
Ron Brind
Posts: 19044
Joined: 26th Oct 2003
Location: England
Posted at 16:34 on 22nd June 2008
Welcome to POE...try from me as well Harry! Great stuff, it's all here on POE isn't it? 
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Sue H
Sue H
Posts: 8173
Joined: 29th Jun 2007
Location: USA
Posted at 16:40 on 22nd June 2008

These poems are beautiful, Harry. I will share them with my mother-in-law who like me, has a love for poetry.

And many welcomes to the forum.

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L
L
Posts: 5656
Joined: 10th Jun 2004
Location: UK
Posted at 18:22 on 22nd June 2008

Hi Harry, welcome to POE. 

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Ruth Gregory
Ruth Gregory
Posts: 8072
Joined: 25th Jul 2007
Location: USA
Posted at 03:37 on 23rd June 2008
Hi Harry:  Hope you enjoy yourself at POE.  It was a lovely poem.  Thanks!
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Harry E Wheeler
Harry E Wheeler
Posts: 171
Joined: 3rd Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posted at 11:49 on 23rd June 2008

A Nightingale’s Song

Fragrant jasmine flowering overhead
Its tendrils in wicker arch entwined
I sit and watch as rounded moon ascends
From beyond shadows of the western hills
Busy insect wings tremble in its waxing
And frenetic June-bug rattles on the pane.

The evening breeze disturbs lilac branches
That abrades the overhanging eaves
Where last summer’s busy swallows
Nested and fed irksome gaping young
Yet now, as each gentle breath caresses
It comforts my hesitant brow

Twilight drapes over distant Cathedral towers
Spires rise above the trees as maiden twins
Elegantly adorned in mist’s own fashion
Aloof, they stand prevailing in French lace
Hushed mantra of solemn parishioners
Drifts soulful, on the zephyr’s gentle wings

Then comes to me the sound of music
From where soft grey heavens meet the earth
To its zenith, the moon now reaches
In full bloom it augments its glow
The world rests still in silent slumber
As lone nightingale entertains with its song








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