no name
the yellow of the flowers is pretty
in the blue of the sky
the blue of your shirt is pretty
in the green of the grass
the green of the grass is pretty
in the blue of the sky
your poorness is pretty
in this moment
original draft 2017-2019, translated 25 April 2022, amended 26 May 2024, amended again 16 September 2024.
copper beech tree
- a tribute to the copper beech tree in darwin college [1]
o my big copper beech tree
your moving shadow in a foggy morning
it is the sun that is rising
before the squirrels realise
the swans have reached old granary
o my big copper beech tree
it is under you that
river cam flows
grasses grow
flowers float
the porters, the punters and the youngsters flourish
o my big copper beech tree
of course you are firm and strong
you are stronger than eunice
for which the felling of you was postponed
eunice did not survive you!
well, the darwinian bees may have something to say
what a bizarre creature this is!
i would thoroughly disagree!
they shall sort out their queen first! [2]
i envy those who live in the rayne
on the land of
o my dear, copper beech tree
i wonder what sort of thing caused the rot?
may one of our doctoral students tell us more?
whatever thing that is
what a horrendous mistake this is!
o my poor copper beech tree
o my big copper beech tree
when the cows arrive on the coe fen, next spring
on the first island, i shall sit down on the grass (hay fever permitting)
feel the warmth of the air and the brightness of the flowers
as if you are still around
original draft February-April 2022, amended 26 April 2022, amended again 9 May 2022, amended again 31 July 2022, amended again 26 May 2024, amended again 16 September 2024
[1] The copper beech tree in Darwin College was felled in April 2022 as a result of rot in its main trunk. It is an old tree and has been around since the Darwin family’s time.
[2] By the time the felling took place, the queen bees of the two beehives on the Second Island were missing. Members of the Darwin beekeeping society were kept busy. New queens were eventually organised - ordered from continental Europe.