Tag Archives: Di Bates

“Fields of Spring” by Dianne Bates

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Fields of Spring

 

A wilderness of tea-trees

In our paddock playground

One free day in the midst of childhood

A day filled with everything

 

We are wild things,

Charging, ducking, hiding,

Flies swamping our sweaty faces

 

A dove, startled, flies up and

Petals fall like a sprinkle of rain

As we play

Cowboys and Indians

With imaginary guns

Bang! Bang! You’re dead!

 

Falling to the ground face-up

Wisps of clouds slide above

As if breathing in and out.

 

© Dianne Bates

 

“Yesterday” by Di Bates

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Yesterday

I was a golden dragon

The kiss of grasses brushed my ankles

And then I rose into the sky 

Where I cavorted at first

Then drifted 

brushing the clouds,

a wondrous lilting shape that those below 

beheld with awe.

 

Golden and crimson I lapped the world

like a god commanding

everything

and everyone

all things revolved around me

I owned the day

Shattered it with my beauty

And my gigantic roar.

 

Today 

yesterday was a dream

and now I am but a mere child

my mother standing over me

with her many demands

I must obey.

Dianne Bates

Car Sick by Dianne Bates

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Green

Our fast green car

Green world

Stomach churning

Head spinning

Spinning

The world turning

Upside down

Downside up

Around and around

Wheels rolling

Streets passing

Blurred buildings

Blurred faces

Blur blur blur

Ur…

Dad, stop!

I’m going to throw …

 

Too late.

 

 

Butterfly Mother by Di Bates

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BUTTERFLY MOTHER

Dancing the tune of the breeze
She lifts her coat sleeves –
And freezes as if in prayer
To breed in the shady leaves;
Green confetti in air.

On the rib-case underneath –
A waxy seam of leaf,
Tiny eggs, colour of cream
Are stuck with butterfly paste.
Blue lady lifts as a dream,
Leaving them, to hatch or waste.

Who knows where she goes
Blue butterfly mother?

by Di Bates