National Poetry Day

National Poetry Day

As today is National Poetry Day, it seems only fitting to share a poem… 

 

I haven’t been in a poetic mood for some time, so here is a poem that I wrote around five years ago about an ordinary and yet most wonderfully extraordinary event which left a lasting impression:

 

The Journey

Cycling to work on this late summer’s day

Bright dew shimmers in Apollo’s ray

Strong beating heart and burning thighs

Dry lips pursed against unwary flies

This part of my journey is steep and slow

Body with Spirit and then I know

I’ve reached level ground and start to soar

The air in my ears begins to roar

I keep pressing harder with all of my might

From the hedge on my left a small bird takes flight

She seems surprised, and so am I

And side by side we both do fly

Time stood still in this whirlwind of speed

Even from space I had been freed

I saw every speckle of her muscled breast

Power filled wings almost stopping to rest

A small brown eye looked into mine

A beak of gold so sleek and fine

Opened so slowly to voice a cry

Then time returned and so did I 

Those parallel lines apart did fly

One to earth, the other sky

Gone, apart, to be seen no more

My beating heart was filled with awe 

I had witnessed Blake’s eternity

In my palm I held infinity

“To see a world in a grain of sand”

Now at last I understand