Poems by LesleyMay Miller  

blue lochan four swans

polished glass reflects Suilven

eagle trumps lapwing

 

The following poems appear in her Artist Books

 

FOR FRIENDS

The empty drawing room 

begins to fill with sun

as each bead is linked

chosen for each friend.

My inlaid box is brim-full

with glass of many colours;

as blue as a clear winter sky

as pale green as a spring tree

as opaque as an opal

as nut-brown as a hazel

as dark green as a summer tree

as translucent as an icicle

as brown as a deep loch

as bright as eyes full of welcome.

A string of unique beads

held together by a bond

of fellowship.

 

 

SNACKS

Juicy oranges

he longed to peel and eat but

his name was Midas.

 

A hot summer night

in a garden of delight

cool cucumber slices.

 

Trees dripping cherry red

open your mouth

catch a sweet drop

of deep glossy colour.

 

TO A FEATHER

You cradle me

soaring in dreams

windblown

your gentle touch

flutters me awake

to sound 

of birdwing

this still morning.

 

SEAWORTHY

There’s a barely pink horizon today

the waves smooth out nearing the shore

into a shimmering pool

an invitation to sail;

perhaps at last we can

drift together

a simple comfort which eluded us long ago.

 

 

LesleyMay is a member of the ‘Words on Canvas’ writing group. The group was set up by Linda McClelland, Playfair Education Co-ordinator at the National Gallery. They meet to look at artworks with input from professional artists.They later meet to discuss the resulting poetry or prose, led by established writers. There was an exhibition of their work and a booklet pulished in 2009.

 

YOUNG VERMEER

The painter loved

opulent fabrics,

silks, satins,

the texture of oriental carpets

and deep, dark fur.

He shows us

the colour of lapis lazuli

in a salt-glaze jug the silver cover still shines.

 

He left us thoughts

of an ancient myth.

 

© LesleyMay Miller