Peace is a flightless bird
swimming in an ocean
leaping high to avoid sharp rocks
at the shore
diving deep into gloom
to find sustenance
Copyright © 2020 Kim Whysall-Hammond
Tag Archives: peace
Forefathers
One walked into shellfire for a mile
and a half
to check if a barbed wire barrier
was now holed
One fought Ottomans in Salonika
and fought again in the next war that burnt Europe
One built underground factories,
and stood at the end of a
bombed and burning street
mourning
We tell their great grandchildren,
watch them weep,
while grateful that
in most of Europe
war is distant
Copyright © 2019 Kim Whysall-Hammond
Each of our Grandfathers survived their wars, but my Aunt lost an fiancé — one of the many American GI’s killed on D-Day.
Forefathers
One walked into shellfire for a mile
and a half
to check if a barbed wire barrier
was now holed
One built underground factories,
and stood at the end of a
bombed and burning street
mourning
One fought Ottomans in Salonika
and fought again in the next war that burnt Europe
We tell their great grandchildren,
watch them weep,
while grateful that
in most of Europe
war is distant
Copyright © 2019 Kim Whysall-Hammond
Each of our Grandfathers survived their wars, but my Aunt lost an fiancé — one of the many American GI’s killed on D-Day.
Snorkel
Snorkel
In the bay
A furious scrum of fishes
Contesting over I know not what
Eagle rays glide above
Between islands
Atlantic swell buffets
Dolphins sway and swerve
Deep below me
Copyright © 2016 Kim Whysall-Hammond
Suddenly I’m there
Suddenly I’m there
Suddenly I’m there
Hearing the birdsong above the murmuring of the water
Cool under the tree
Enjoying the dappling of the hot sun
Breathing deep
Inhaling the scents of a woodland stream
Copyright © 2016 Kim Whysall-Hammond
Poem inspired by Zen Postcard 13 at https://photo-art.me/2016/07/01/zen-postcard-13/
Shingle
Shingle
Lying on shingle, hat over face
Having wriggled a hollow in the stones
Dry crackling thumps from breaking waves
Fill my ears
White noise with a heartbeat that matches my own
Muscles melt in the sun
Flow into the beach
The high tide has stopped three feet from my toes
Copyright © 2016 Kim Whysall-Hammond
Stone in the water
Stone in the water
Deep plunge pool in the heart of the moor
Centred in spring time unfurling of bracken
Shadowed by a twisted thorn tree
Water pours in over a mossy lip
Large pebbles line the sloping
Glowing colours in crystal water
Something falls
Breaks the surface
Circles upon circles radiate
Contours ripple to a point of disappearance
Sparkle in the dawn light
Stone in the water
Copyright © 2016 Kim Whysall-Hammond
