the watcher

I am not quite become

a twitcher of curtains

that favourite sport of ladies

alone and lonely

preying on the small excitements

of others

from behind

slyly lifted net curtains

I do not twitch

but boldly stand and stare

at the unfolding story

of my valley

high I live

perched on the side of the hill

too many steps

leaving my tobacco besmirched lungs

breathless at the ascent

yet more to climb

to reach the place of looking

to seek and know

perhaps become without care

the lazy glide of heron

wings spread, riding the air

homeward bound

I know the hiding place

of gold

the sacred secret

of where the rainbow ends

perhaps in youth

I might have gasped

donned walking boots

and stretched my legs

to stand within the myriad light reflecting

motes of magic

wiser now

my eyes have learned to watch

and hold within

the short lived endurance

of nature and her dancing light

no gold to grasp with greedy hands

but a moment in time

made beautiful

by the relentless march of days

expended in the living

Copyright © 2014 by Eryll Oellermann

4

winter

winter

Frost on the windscreen

toe curling cold

socks which are damp

from shoes way too old

the sun is bright shining

low temperature day

no clouds which will keep

the cold weather at bay

the long nights are with us

the short days unfold

to dark leafless trees

which were once burnished gold

Copyright © 2014 by Eryll Oellermann

the village green

there is no sign warning
'stay off the grass' or
'ball games forbidden'
the sign there is reads
'no horse riding'
children are dogs are welcome
don't forget to pick up after them
the dogs that is
right there, under the big old oak tree
is a red bin marked 'dog litter only'
no horses though
tearing up the emerald green turf
immaculate in summer cut and trim
with heavy horse hooves
only one old oak remains casting shade and shadow
once there were two
but ageing branches
and raging winter storms
finally called finis
one day they came
council workers in safety gear
with chain saws and chippers
to put an end to falling branches
and health and safety dangers
so now the old oak stands alone
guarding the empty space
where once there stood another of the species
the children play there
beneath outstretched branches
on the long hot summer days
it takes a season and they are gone
onto more mature entertainments
each year a new generation of young ones
lie in the shade and pass their time
two wheel bicycles and dolls prams
temporarily abandoned
as they scrabble on the wooden steps
hammered in place so long ago
by those other
once upon a time day dreamers

Copyright ©  Eryll Oellermann 2014

to sit

i love to sit
with my head in the shade
with my boots on the wall
made of stone like a cave
my mind loves to ponder
on everyday things
like the colour of grass
and the sound of bird wings
i fly on the birdsong
i ride on the breeze
i listen to flowers
and the humming of bees
the sun follows me
and i follow the shade
as i dream of tomorrow
and plans i have made
i breathe in the good air
sun caresses my skin
if this place is earth
where does heaven begin

Copyright ©  Eryll Oellermann 2014

no coming back

no coming back


long gone
stepped off the edge
and left, no coming back
why me why me why not
who else is there
if not me
alone and afraid
stepping up brave faced
to a world of only one
split like an atom with no
explosion
lost in the once familiar
uncomfortable in my safe place
a lifetime of riches
now beggared by the unthinkable
reach out and gather what is left
floating particles of self and sameness
homeless in the vacuum of loss
who changed the rules
and why


Copyright ©  Eryll Oellermann 2014