nine miles

Poems with River Jones. Woodblock illustrations by Rebecca Tann of Twenty One Crows. Cover image by Laura Joy. £7.5o

heart fires  - jh

I never hoped I’d find myself
beneath these oaks again
amid this place that’s lost to waking eyes.
Tonight the spirit’s strong in us
and though we know they’re coming
it’s beautiful the way we’re gathered here.

The lower mast is bronzing
by the castings of our fire
the flare of it is sounding out the deep
above our heads; these skyward caves
lit up, outlined,
bright moment by bright moment.

These flames are hammer tongued
and warm our hearts. We cast
ourselves around and clasp this ring
with melded hands. We’ve grown
so many round this light
one fire alone cannot contain
the swelling of our song.

A second fire; a second throng
and here’s two wheels
spun thick and strong and spinning
back on back; all kindred full,
all kindled recognition.

I see you in the midst of it,
drawn onwards in the curve of it
while looking out towards me, looking back.
I see myself within your eyes;
We know each other here.
I see the fire and do not know
Which one of us is which.

These locks of understanding bind us close,
reflections of each other in each other.
This old night the spirit’s strong in us
and though they’re never far away
it’s beautiful the way we’re gathered here.

There’s rings of limb-rimmed brightness
all about these woods tonight.
I see our lights spark up and catch
and hold this memory tight.

There’s rings rung round with brightness
all about this flowering wood.
I see these lights begin to bloom
and cast this image wide.

Copyright all Text and Images J.A. Hindle 2008