Poetry

RIMUTAKA DREAMING

There’s a place of plaited dreams
where Rimutaka Tunnel winds
Pairs of lines wrap gilded trees
and houses hide in violet skies

Cryptic archway beckons here
as horns sing on summer haze
Geckoes tell of Maymorn time
when trains were filled with hearts and spades

Drink glistening dew from spider webs
in railway cups with butterflies
Make cat’s cradles with woven water
plant stars from seeds of clematis eyes

Climb cabbage trees with silver leaves
find ginger jars of old moonshine
Place polished coals in flaming boxes
in the land where lines entwine

ⓒ 2010 Barbara Taylor

KAIMANAWA HORSES

Over hills where no-one goes

Where the tussock grass still grows

Pressed together ungroomed flanks

Darkened manes in flying hanks

All the blended colours run

Earth cream ginger

Mole and dun

Energy and shining eyes

Freely roam their paradise

Bound together as a band

Through their desert motherland

ⓒ 2010 Barbara Taylor

GOLDFISH POND

Honey and fire
sleekly glisten
through the water
Darting gliding
and when you listen
you’ll hear the sound
as they break
though the surface
and flick around
Gossamer tail
in graceful trail

You wouldn’t think
they’d come to you
when you call
but now they do
Little eyes
upward turned
Watchful trusting
as they’ve learned
Leap to catch
the spoils you throw
Then dive again
to depths below

ⓒ 2010 Barbara Taylor

CAROUSEL

Red armchair
with Raphael’s
yellow hair
against a sky
of cobalt blue
where two bronze
greyhounds play
while jars with wings
and boats float
over painted waves
Ophelia’s upturned hand
brushes floating flowers
as butterflies
on parasols
disguise
inviting eyes

ⓒ 2010 Barbara Taylor