Harvesttime, County Fermanagh

 

 

In a Fermanagh farmhouse a T.V. flickers

romantic as candlelight and a man

arms pimpled by the North wind,

 

hugs his young fiancé who is sweet sixteen

and green as the harvest fields

that unfold like the sheet around them.

 

He’s a refugee of these safe houses.

They look out to the harvested fields

Then the tolling ring of his mobile phone,

 

a warning to travel on. It is time now

but neither knows that yet.

Look how he brushes her raven hair,

 

how they are cradled in folds of duvet.
He strokes her cheek and both walk

into the night with time yet to turn back.

 

Reviews

[fireblossom]

Me thinks this adds to your ongoing theme of the political refuge. In the north country hidden amongst the lakes and fields lost in the mundane serenity out of the way. Even there the cell phone warns...

Your description of the young couple is at once stark and warm...snuggling in the duvet against the dark cold night. Wonderful, great, the power of contrast...

Jan

[Blackbirdsong]

As always your writing is such a wonder to read. You are just simply brilliant and you work on it writing and it shows. The story of this poem is softly told and left me wanting more - as all great works do. I want to know the full story of these two people even though you've given us hints as to who they are and what is going on here. I love this as I have loved everything I have ever read of yours little sis. You continue to astonish me while making me proud.

[AK]

Others have already mentioned why this piece is so remarkable. I can only offer a vote of confirmation. As Hedra Helix said, your voice is enviable.

[Emily B]

I grew up in a more rural area. Filled with farms. I imagined those figures were people I knew when I was that age. Your portraits always breathe with such cunning and grace that it isn't hard to imagine that they will walk off the page.

And those last words. . . still time to turn back . . . a strong, strong ending.

[Collect-Eye]

you created such a soft and personal setting w/ your word flow and you imagery..you use just enough energy to get your point across nicely.
you can't not feel what the characters feel while reading this and after, I think.
well done.

[Gandré]

This was not only sweet but it made my longing for this part of world. You have such an amazing ability to creates even reader's mood
This is such a sweet and yet confusing age and you even told this by the way you formed the impression they and their land were one and they and the reader - everyone rememembershimself at his own sixteen when reading this - litery juggler you are. I didn t find Selm. Poem. Give me then the link pls. I will look through browsing, too. Thank you for all reviews.
I cannot technically give rating with this old Bberry I wold give 100%.

[Hedra Helix]

So neat, like a movie snippet, as usual filled with specifics of light and dim but rich colors, your sentences both leaving off and continuing us into the next frame effortlessly. You know just what to give and you trust your reader. I dig being trusted;)

"arms pimpled by the North wind,

hugs his young fianc� who is sweet sixteen
and green as the harvest fields"

Bad a*s. Your voice is all you own and enviable;)