English Garden

English Garden

A Poem by Britannia
"

Memories of my garden in England

"

Are you still there Espalier?

Do your arthritic fingers clutch the kitchen wall
while you birth your summer blushed fruits?
Blanched flesh dribbling.
Does the moss trimmed quilt placed at your feet
bleach rosy in the insipid sun,
and shock scarlet with the rains?

Does thyme march over the rockery wall
and dandelions count your days
with feathery clocks?
A drifting calendar that lingers on your
seasoned trunk.

Is Rowan guarding the door?
Pinnate leaves buffeted by westerlies.
While runes course his berried branches,
a crimson warning for the dark ones
to stay away.

© 2013 Britannia


Author's Note

Britannia
The Rowan tree is connected with witch craft and was used to ward off witches. My son's name is also Rowan.

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Featured Review

Very cool. I live in Texas but have what I call an English Garden (well at least that is what I call it) and I read your comment below and might have to see if I can plant a Mountain Ash in the front of it.

Your style is quite unique and paints a fragrant portrait of how nature is used and percieved to be a used to ward off evil. Very nice.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Britannia

11 Years Ago

An English garden is what you want it to be...but I am sure a Mountain Ash would be a good complimen.. read more



Reviews

This sounds like a lovely garden. (If you are not a dark one, that is. Ha!) I have read about Rowan trees that are planted to stand guard against evil spells. I am in South Carolina, (too hot for them here) I wonder what else I can plant to ward off witches?! Nicely done, Britannia. Angi~

Posted 11 Years Ago


A splendid read and write...:)

Posted 11 Years Ago


Another note to American readers...

In England we call the fluffy seedhead of the dandelion a clock. As children we use it to tell the time by blowing on it. The number of puffs is the hour... always inaccurate! lol See below from Wiki...

Dandelion clock (plural dandelion clocks)
The white seed head of a dandelion after flowering.
A children's amusement in which the number of puffs needed to blow the filamentous achenes from a dandelion is supposed to tell the time.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Very cool. I live in Texas but have what I call an English Garden (well at least that is what I call it) and I read your comment below and might have to see if I can plant a Mountain Ash in the front of it.

Your style is quite unique and paints a fragrant portrait of how nature is used and percieved to be a used to ward off evil. Very nice.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Britannia

11 Years Ago

An English garden is what you want it to be...but I am sure a Mountain Ash would be a good complimen.. read more
This was pretty good. Nice imagery. A tree to ward off witches..interesting

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Britannia

11 Years Ago

Thanks Shaun. Traditionally the boughs were hung above the door to keep the witches away. Now a days.. read more
Shaun Payton

11 Years Ago

Perhaps it does. Wonder if it works

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229 Views
5 Reviews
Added on June 17, 2013
Last Updated on June 17, 2013
Tags: garden, england, rockery, rowan, rowan tree, witch craft, runes.

Author

Britannia
Britannia

Setauket, NY



About
Originally from England I have lived in a small village on Long Island for almost thirty years now. My career has been a checkered one, but on the whole a very enjoyable path of discovery. Starting ou.. more..

Writing
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