Saturday 31 October 2015

Winds Of Time

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In the scheme of things mankind has not been on earth very long and no matter what we achieve in the future the probability is that in a geological timescale we are likely to be a mere blip in the history of this planet. That said the lifespan of Earth itself pales into insignificance in grand scheme.

This got me thinking and a the following poem breezed into mind.

Winds Of Time

The Fulani knew my power
as hunched against my breath
they drove herds in search of pasture
that I’d not smothered yet.
You call me Harmattan,
though that is not my name,
for I was here before you
before the desert came
and when your bones are naught but dust
I will still remain.

The Clatsop knew my warmth
as I swept the mountain slopes
I melted snow before me
and bought false signs of hope.
You call me Chinook
though that is not my name
for my clouds enriched sunrise
before the dawn of man
and they’ll brighten western skies
when your last race has run.

Columbus and Magellan
thought they'd harnessed me
as they navigated oceans
in search of destiny.
You call me Trade Winds
but that is not my name
for I blew before the ocean's birth
when a mighty rupture came
and I'll be blowing still
when land joins land again.

I helped shape mountains,
I swept the plains between.
From ice cap to desert
I sculpted the terrain.
I breathed, before life,
before little pools of green,
before cells came together
to crawl out from the sea
and I was here a long, long time,
before apes climbed in the trees.

Yet even I will perish
as time alone survives,
for this planet will crumble
scattered amidst the skies
it's atmosphere burnt off
carried on cosmic winds.
Our atoms will float
through a universe sublime
waiting to be born again
in the ebb and flow of time

John Carré Buchanan
31 October 2015


With thanks to Richard Fleming for his help.

This poem is linked to the midweek motif on Poets United.

Friday 9 October 2015

Bad Form


I dislike filling in forms at the best of times, but badly crafted forms really annoy me. This poem is based on one such form, enjoy;

Bad Form

They sent a form in the post to my house
with my name and address on the top;
"Dear Mr. Buchanan... complete and return...
if you don't payments will stop".
The first three boxes I had to fill in
we're; title, name and address,
then date of birth (day month and year),
.... then they asked for my age!
but not as a number, they don't want to pry,
just tick the appropriate range.
The reference they'd used; my account number,
the next box wanted that too,
so I spent 5 minutes digging it out
…. when I realised, the air turned blue!
Then came the boxes to date and sign,
I thought the chore was over, but
just below, yes, on the same page
they asked me to sign
on a dotted line..........
to confirm I'd completed the form!

John Carré Buchanan
09 October 2015