Phil Wood

Let’s say enough

Park the voiceless frown, pursue
a mood beyond the muddy trudge 
and midge misted hedges,
a path forested with pine underfoot 
will thimble needling cares. Those eyes
are not fabled threat but dew,
purling redacted light, no longer breathe
the pulse for more. All the heavy clay
will crumble away. It's true!
Look at that thumb of oak, the wick
flicker in leaves, how the lure
of light amplifies, the heartwood throbs.
Be surefooted. Don't blur
into the mizzle of must! The smother smog!
This time take the time to dawdle
into the forest and whittle
the craft to never crave a happiness
for clocks. Dwindle doubt
on this leafy path, the car less road,
let punctilious bees hum their hives,
be carefree! Have I said enough?

Market Values

Out of the forest of yesterday
he came, almost a folktale,
the Costermonger with a weight
of woe. His handcart freight:

Mouldwarp three for thruppence
Hedgepig sixpence each
Squirrelle two for tuppence
Four 'ennet eggs a shillin'
Brace of coney a florin

It's them penny taxes, he grouched.

I bartered with sloe gin,
shared a meaty pie.
No Blackbird did sing.

Northumbria
To walk these borders is to know
an expanse of sky which promises,
and gives, rainfall and splashes of sun
that refreshes land rarely bothered
by houses, though even these weather
in buttery light like nature's own.
The heather scented wind rumours
with more than raptors. We descend
a path hooded by ancient oak,
a stream chuckling as if amused
by ramblers on moist mossy stone.
There's a dead sheep nestled below.
Headless. In lichen-rich forest,
air dampens the greens, mutters myth.
Daft I know. Such places gather belief.

Flights, Issue Nine, June 2023