SILK

In the interests in broadening our horizons, this section is devoted to verse which falls outside the parameters of rhyme and metre, such as blank verse and free verse. Registered users are welcome to post their original works here.
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Maureen K Clifford
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SILK

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:46 pm

SILK ... Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet

There is no more fruit,
stained fingers attest to that -
all the mulberries have gone
the tree now festooned only with
dew drops and spiders webs,
and my helper,
desire still rampant in his eye
is covered in the remnants of
the sweet explosion
he has just devoured.


Passing strangers look at him and smile.
One little boy - in the September sunshine,
arms and legs scratched, hair tousled,
cheeks and lips red as the berries,
clutching, like the laurel wreath of a victor,
a handful of mulberry leaves
for his silkworms at home.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Neville Briggs
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Re: SILK

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Mar 10, 2019 5:07 pm

I had a big mulberry tree in the yard in the 70's, I have a photo somewhere of my three with purple faces and purple soles of their feet.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: SILK

Post by Shelley Hansen » Tue Mar 12, 2019 11:48 am

Ooh yes - so many memories for me too! We had a giant mulberry tree in the backyard ... and I had silkworms!!

Do kids have silkworms these days? Or cover themselves with purple mulberry juice from berries eaten straight from the tree?

Love the poem, Maureen! Especially the contrast between the glory of eating and the saving of the leaves for the silkworms. Are you familiar with Douglas Stewart's poem "The Silkworms"? I've always liked it.
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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Maureen K Clifford
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Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
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Re: SILK

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:41 am

I can't recall the last time I saw kids doing this, must be well over 20 years ago - I don't think today's Mums are comfortable with kids eating wild food and I doubt silkworms can compete with technology. Our generations were in many ways the last of the free range kids as opposed to the 'feral' kids we tend to see these days. We were perhaps the lucky ones :D I haven't read that other poem but I will go and source it right away. Delighted you liked this one of mine Shelley.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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