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Limbs of Laylandii

In desolate dark
churchyards
lichen laden
headstones
mark your place

Could find you on
a map of orderly
death rows
plotted and paid for
with your Co-op
plan

Very good at organising
your final resting
weren't you?

Pity you didn't
work out the cost
to the family's
funeral debt

Every time I walk
the dog
he repays the
interest in piss

The skeletal
limbs of laylandii
grab down as if
to pitch us down
to join you

I visit to chat
mutter that
you were a silly
arse in life
and a tightfisted
comfy corpse

Your orderly patch
contrasts with home
wreckage
Hope it's comfortable
on the burning coals

Editing stage: 

Comments

Great suggestion...I'll change it to...'on the burning coals'.

Mrs C x

author comment

Loved this poem, the laylandi; I had to look that one
up, thought it may give me insight as to who may be
burning, but a tree is a tree and these are quite popular
there I see ... hmmm, not even so important who it is
but my mind is still churning.

thank you for posting and for teaching me about the
leylandi hedge/tree's, there were so many types and
I'd never even heard of them, all quite beautiful.

Hi Moonman,

My neighbour recently hacked down 27 Laylandii that had been allowed to grow rampant by a previous owner, he hated them! I have 3 mature ones in our garden...they need a yearly haircut to stay in shape. High maintenance trees! Their structure looked menacing one day whilst out walking the dog in our local graveyard. Was the inspiration for this piece. Glad you liked it.

Ells x

author comment

I also loved this. I won't even think of suggesting any change in words but I will suggest you consider combining some of the lines for smoother reading...............stan

Glad you enjoyed this piece. I don't want it to be 'smooth'...it's meant to be unsettling and have a punch at the end. Freeform doesn't require smoothness of flow. I know how it sounds and I like it the way it is, thanks for the suggestions though.

Ells x

author comment

This is a five star poem, enjoyed this very much especially the dog walking part. Great write Love Roscoe..

Roscoe Llane,

Religion will rip your faith off, and return
for the mask of disbelief that's left.

Thanks very much for the compliment. Yes the dog 'pissing' on the relatives grave is a shocker, isn't it? Meant to represent a lack of respect...and it works I think.

Ells x

author comment

I loved your poem brilliant what is it about walking the dog that creates poetry I have two dog poems one is already posted here

You've been writing some awesome stuff

Love Jc xxx

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats

Well, I read your stuff all the time and you know by now that I think you're such a talented, creative woman. As I said to Roscoe, the dog 'pissing' was meant to shock a little and change the tone of the poem.

I've just accepted a challenging new business role so I'm not sure I'll have so much time for writing for a bit...have the muse with me at present though, it's all flowing out of me and i'm experimenting with different ideas. Fun isn't it?

Ells x

author comment

The dog pissing does the job it does change the whole tone of the poem ... write while you can I am coming out of a slump slowly getting my muse to be cooperative lol studying all the time doesnt help ... I dont think I have even begun to write the stuff i want to write one day I may become a poet ;)

I will miss your writes so call in when you can it aint the same without you around

big hugs JC xxx

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats

Clouds above the temple
behind the great Buddha
dogs pissing at heaven.

I haven't quoted it right, spent ages trying to find
the correct one, so i shall replace this when and if I find it!

But it fitted, this poem somehow.
This one was fun Elis.
Ann.

"The image of yourself which you see in a mirror Is dead,
but the reflection of the moon on water, lives." Kenzan.

dog repaying it in piss. what a concept
Id hate to be your enemy!

I hope I have no enemies, I hate no one.
I only discriminate against those who discriminate against others.
I give all the-benefit-of-the-doubt.

I live with a Dane, that should explain
the depth-width of humour that I have had to learn,
their openness to such, and about everything,
is without prejudice.

It didn't work when I told a joke at my sisters, her in laws present,
only the f.in law smiled, no laughter, and he gave me a hug every time
he met me!!!! A flop.

A natural view of all things, not making them vulgar,
(although the word vulgar in fact means ordinary).
but vulgar in the ugly sense, that I am not, and all the
art produced today isn't lacking in that type of vulgarity,
which I don't even find offensive, just sad.

Yes those Japanese have a wide understanding of nature,
and human nature.

Love
Ann.

"The image of yourself which you see in a mirror Is dead,
but the reflection of the moon on water, lives." Kenzan.

Loved this one, apart from the Laylandii in the churchyards, not sure if your English history has a page on the old rules.
That every 16 year old would have to go to the church each Sunday afternoon for archery practice, they were very strict on this.
The practice was with the long bow Britain's weapon of war.
There in the church yards, you would find growing amongst the tombs was the Yew tree.
The wood of the Yew tree was used in the making of the long bow, and the whole system was run by the churches in those days.
The wood of the Yew has two properties one the heart wood was strong and didn't flex too much, the softer outside wood would flex so they would combine the two to make the Long Bow so very springy, this weapon was superior to any other weapon in our world at that time.
If you go and look at the museum that holds the wreck of Henry the V111's the Mary Rose, it is in Portsmouth, in the museum there is a display of long bow woods that sank with the ship in the 1500's, It was Henry's Flag ship and hadn't been above water till about the year 1998 ?? or some such date, here ends the history lesson lol.
Have a great day, hope you won't mind the history, it will give others a chance to read up on things like that.
As all the others that read this one it was good to read so excuse the rest of my comment lol
Yours as always Ian.T

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

I liked the venom created by wonderful usage of choicest words. Pretty dark yet loved to read this one.

Regards,

raj (sublime_ocean)

Your language use is amazing, as is your blatant imagery, and together, they make for one Hell of a read! This one is lots of fun! Bravo!

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