The Wishing Tree

Bring me a pathway

to  a wishing tree,

wind it and whisper it through

autumn leaves, walk it beneath me, a teasing

soul thief, to gather today’s acorns

of dreams.

Bring you a sandstone, from a

beechnut ground, chestnuts and tender looks

litter and crowd, remnants of a river-beach and

sand-built hearts, lie with pretty pennies

in a mud-stained palm;

all are the colours

of the garden’s

pumpkin yarn,

and all are mine,

all beautiful mine.

Bring us a moment in passing time

to plant our wishes

side by side, to push them deep

into bark that weeps, for joy of every sigh…

Give them roots, caressing vines take hold,

arms to entwine with soft tinges of gold, that fall like confetti

with each breeze that blows, and the rain murmurs all

that we know:

here, one autumn, on a wishing tree,

a summer’s future was told. 

Written at Bolton Abbey - 27.10.13 :)