A Friend Up the Hill – For Katherine
Squirrels drop nuts
on the woodshed’s tin roof
as if dotting exclamations
for your Virgo birthday
Butterflies land on zinnias
while spiders start their webs
spinning quiet rhythms
for the changing of seasons
And we are girls passing notes
that have grown into poems
We are mothers in rocking chairs
holding loved memories close
Some years we drink tea
out of fancy China cups
Some years it’s too hot
to walk up and down the hill
Cricket songs rise and fall
like waves on a shore
Clouds clear away
a clean slate of blue
We collect seed pods to blow
though we secretly know
our deepest wishes
have already come true
_________Colleen Redman / Poets and Storytellers United
August 29th, 2021 12:33 am
What could be better than having a cherished friend and kindred spirit – unless it’s having one within walking distance?
August 29th, 2021 6:23 am
Changing of seasons is well depicted. Your poem is also a lovely tribute or celebration (of an upcoming birthday, I guess) written for a friend. It is beautiful!
August 29th, 2021 6:55 am
wow, loved this, every line of it
“Some years we drink tea
out of fancy China cups
Some years it’s too hot
to walk up and down the hill”
don’t know why, but those lines really stood out to me, well done, really enjoyed this
August 29th, 2021 9:49 am
one can feel the passage of time of this friendship in the poem. lovely writing!
August 29th, 2021 10:02 am
Nice lookback, CR.
August 29th, 2021 10:47 am
The image of notes growing into poems is magical to me!
August 29th, 2021 11:25 am
Such a gentle and loving look back over the y ears of a friendship. Bravo
August 29th, 2021 1:15 pm
This is stunning and reminds me of how we must cherish our closest / oldest friends … [ thank you for the Virgo birthday nod!!! ]
August 29th, 2021 8:20 pm
I really love the last stanza. I like the idea of having hope and entertaining the thought of new wishes being fulfilled, even if we already have all we want. For what is life, if not wanting?
August 30th, 2021 3:00 pm
A sweet picture of a contentment that seems to be becoming increasingly rare.
August 30th, 2021 3:01 pm
It makes me remember how thankful I am for strong, deep friendships that last for a long time.
September 4th, 2021 12:19 pm
Beautiful. <3