Unearth

A bartered dark
of full shone armours
gallowed brooks in
shins of alder
trod the clays of stilted copse
that crest the low slung chestnut rides

To inglenooks of scuttled hamlets
strung in river- maiden's hair ,
a haven for the last ascendant
flinted from the steeping turf.

A subtle art of arcane movement
starboard cupped
in stone- pocked pewter

sparks the grailed pain
of foxes harrowed
in that sudden wood.

Author's Note

"grailed" is a bit of a liberty, a neoligism, if you will- "growl"- and- "wail" somehow, in my small head = " grailed"............ sorry.

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

A beautiful poem,enchanting and somewhat old worldly like a secret garden.

[Alistair (Ali)]

Thank you Andrew- I have been lucky to know some, as yet, untouched places- how long they will remain so, is anyone's guess.
We have to treasure them while we can.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Beautiful poetry of, I imagine, a beautiful place. Again I love the way you use words. Each word says a lot and feeds the imagination. Nicely done.

[Alistair (Ali)]

Thank you very much- it is a place I used to walk some time ago- but can close my eyes and walk there still.

[Poetic Beauty]

This makes me think of a battle ground from long long ago.

[Alistair (Ali)]

Thinking about it, it could have been. Thank you for those words.

[Poetic Beauty]

Welcome. This piece has great imagery

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Magnificent, transcendent poem reminiscent of Thoreau’s Walden Pond..classic, eloquent, lyrical language -“to inglenooks of scuttled hamlets strung in river-maiden’s hair”-pristine, natural imagery evoking history and deep connection with the earth. Master-Class work- “Grailed” rocks too!:)

[Alistair (Ali)]

Cheers Annette!- You always bring a smile to my day- and that is proper value!- and your understanding of verse is quality indeed.
Thank you.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Awwwww. Hi A.! Your writing of beautiful verse is quality to me. Some of the best on this site. One can’t be taught to write the way you do- it’s truly a gift....

[Alistair (Ali)]

Bless you, Annette!- and now I'm blushing!- proper hot-red chops too!- I We are lucky with language- there are some wonderful words in this world of ours.
Thank you so much for all you do!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You are most welcome. Go Liverpool FC!!!:):):)

[Sami Khalil]

You are an artist Ali and you give the place a new life and magic of its own. You describe things marvelously.

[Alistair (Ali)]

Very kind words Sami, thank you so much, my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like that word, "grailed"---
i feel Ophelia in this...she still haunts me...the poor maiden----each wood with a brook echoes her name to this lover of Hamlet.
j.

[Alistair (Ali)]

Thank you kindly- and you make me think of those Waterhouse paintings- now, they are truly ethereal.

All the best to you.

[George Coombs]

Some wonderful imagery here Ali, a very real sense of re-connection with the earth, environment and with nature. I particularly liked the concluding two stanzas and, for me 'grailed' came across well and seemed to fit well into the whole. Excellent work

[Alistair (Ali)]

Thank you George- this was a bit of a paean to those harvest moons over the old Kent villages. When that ethereal light poured her silver down those frosted lanes- I had to get out and walk- you cannot beat a walk on a cold, still-shone night, there is way too much beauty!
Thank you my friend.

[George Coombs]

Your welcome Ali

[Unspoken poet]

Love the last two stanza's this is wonderful. very descriptive and love the imagery

[Alistair (Ali)]

Thank you kindly for those words.

[Coyote Poetry]

The words told a story. You made the reader believe and have visions of distances places and old thoughts. I enjoyed this poem. Thank you Alistair for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Alistair (Ali)]

Thank you my friend,- I lived in this place- all the kids, there wanted for the town- a few years later, they wanted to return. Those houses are gone now.
I hope that all those who left, may- just may- have that spark for the trees, the pastures, the streams, the woodland and meadows- and pass it on to their children.
You, Sir, live in a land that I will probably never visit, but I have a strong feeling, that you love this land- how do we pass that love and wonder on?-
I'm 47 years old- I have friends who don't read books- they cannot name 5 species of bird, flower, tree, animal- etc- and I love these guys!
I am going to shut up now- because I should!
Thank you my friend!

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed this poem and you are welcome my friend.