The Tui

(photo by Phil Linklater)

I wake to hear the Tui's tuneful lilt,
He serenades his lover, trills and shouts.
I strain to see the tuft beneath his throat,
His iridescent feathers gleam like silk.

Our garden comes alive with boisterous song.
He flits from tree to tree and calls his mate.
She answers with her own bell-like refrain,
Secure, that in his eyes, she does no wrong.

I listen to those birds with sinking heart.
The tree on which they sing will soon be felled.
A straggling pine that's simply grown too tall,
It's job is done - and now it must depart.

..............................................................


The garden makes a neat and tidy bower.
With native shrubs and trees to gaze upon.
One day perhaps, the Tui will return,
The kowhai tree shows signs of early flower.


Amanda Edwards (c) 2014

Come and Get Me - a collection of poetry ... soon to be published.

Photograph by Niki Palmer

A seagull dives and wheels along the shore,
Adjusts its wings in calm and measured flight.
Brief skiffs of rain paint shadows on the lake,
A boy holds fast his wild and frenzied kite.

I long to leave this place; soar with the gull,
But something pulls me down and won't let go.
A distant voice that speaks in ancient tongue,
Not yet, not yet, there's more you need to know.

I turn my face toward the coming storm,
Still my heart and count in measured beat.
Comb my trembling fingers through my hair,
Refuse to let my mind admit defeat.

Amanda Edwards (c) 2014

Below the surface

What fire breathes beneath this crater lake?
What currents lick the shore with lazy tongue?
A volcano that has long since spent its force,
Yet steaming vents belie its dormant state.

What mild tremblings stir us from our sleep?
As Ruaumoko wakes and shakes his head.
His legendary strength still tilts the earth,
Ephemeral human structures buried deep.

What raging storms drive us underground?
In fear that all we own will soon be lost.
We wait for calm until we venture forth,
Wade through the utter chaos left behind.

What shadows lurk behind our sunlit masks?
What dreams are pushed aside until too late?
What passion dampened down to kill desire?
How many questions are there left, to ask?

Amanda Edwards (c) 2014

An attempt at a sonnet ...

Man and wife.

We lay together underneath this tree,
the willow branches shade our skin, so fair.
We listen to the shrieks of youngsters, free,
unshackled from the burdens that we bear.
It’s simple here to let our troubles ease,
relaxed, replete I watch you drift away.
Enchanted by the shadows of the leaves,
that dance upon your face in joyful play.
I slow my heart to beat in time with yours,
and shed a tear of happiness for us.
For in this magic place we find no flaws;
acceptance, love and hope, no need to fuss.
Just now we leave behind our family strife,
Our souls connect once more as man and wife.

 

Amanda Edwards © 2014

Sunflower

I stretch and stretch
thirsting for light
your love
quickening, quivering
through my veins.

My seed glows gold
with the passage of time
beating for you my love
half tempo rhythm and blues.

I open wide
search for those last rays
a memory of you
embossed upon my heart.

Oh lord, where are you?
Why do you leave
this pale shadow of yourself
in my night sky?

I bow to you
curl around my emptiness
And cry.

 ©Amanda Edwards 2014