The mountain at our feet
bone chilling cold floats the air south
when it comes we’re reminded
of limitations, an unspoken
heaviness that throws long shadows
peaks are coated in white
look pure, he thinks
delicate as a virgin
draw him closer
an aria belts from the radio
a woman’s voice
calling
boldly calling
the climber presses his feet
into mountain secrets
listens to the silence
of the earth waking
opens his soul to the maiden
whose wings shroud
a Siren’s song
& his courage breaks
Rhythm
rain drums through the day
from south to north
weeping into rivers
wayward Oystercatchers are
testament to another season
past
somewhere far off
on the Côte d’Azur
a child kicks the sand till it squeals
others laze about as if the sea
belongs to them
at home, bold music
thunders against the coastline
rocks hum with another tide
a boat on the horizon
sits and sinks, sits and sinks
the dark rhythm of waiting
reminds me we barely breathe
before we’re gone.
Shirley Deuchrass’s poems have been published in journals such as Poetry New Zealand, Takahe, Blackmail Press, as well as newspapers (Otago Daily Times, the Bay of Plenty Times), and she has also been included in an "Arrow Anthology".
