Valley sounds, Spring

Day 14:  "try writing a poem that describes a place, particularly in terms of the animals, plants or other natural phenomena there. Sink into the sound of your location, and use a conversational tone. Incorporate slant rhymes (near or off-rhymes, like “angle” and “flamenco”) into your poem. And for an extra challenge – don’t reference birds or birdsong!

I enjoyed finding slant rhymes, but couldn't resist mentioning birds - they're such an important part of our soundscape! 



Did you miss the valley's sounds while you were away? 
I mean the subconscious sounds of every day: 
The distant thrum of wheels on road,
Humming through the woods above our house?
The whoosh as the wind struggles free from our lilac tree
As it rushes on its way towards next door's fence?
The profusion of confused new lambs bleating, 
Listening for their own ewe's reassuring greeting?
The ghostly vibrations of gliders
Coasting high above us in the wide bright sky?
The whirr and whine of lawnmowers, hedgetrimmers,
Leaf blowers and strimmers?
(I won't mention the hawks or the rooks,
Pheasants, finches, tits, robins, wood pigeons on our feeders - 
You'll have missed them, they won't have missed you.)
But did you miss the other, further sounds that surround,
Without even noticing they weren't there?


© Copyright 2025. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

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