WALK IN A SPANISH LANE

 

Walk this sandy lane

Between two peaceful grassy banks

See the dip here

Through the water splash

still wet from heavy rain

 

Cows breath gently

Nuzzling at the manger

While they slowly munch on straw

Cow bells rhythmically clunking

(it’s not really a ring)

What nourishment, I wonder,

is there in this meager straw

 

curiously they stare

in bovine curiosity,

I’m not part of their world

The black one’s horns are black,

I notice, but the others all are,

Well, horn colored.

 

Pass by the cactus hedge

Makes a most effective barrier

In the morning sun

Fierce cactus spines are white

Last night its thorns

Silhouetted

Black against the sunset

 

I feel the stillness in the air

Even though I hear

A water pump

Chatter, ‘cross a field

And some workmen laying blocks

To build another barn

Peace hangs heavily around

Silence drowning out the noise

 

The wind-farm on the hilltop –

Even this has fallen still.

Windmills in a line

Of silent supplication

Arms reaching for a breath of breeze

To send electrons pulsing to Seville

 

Distantly a dog barks

While, closer by, a duck

Chunters slowly, out for snails.

Unidentified high overhead

Two large birds

Pass quickly to beyond.

A Eucalyptus shivers

As the moment passes

 

Warm sun cast shadows

Where the hoar frost huddles still.

Some heavily armored bug

Falls, unfortunately, on its back.

Struggling round in circles

Eventually finds its feet

 

Hills and valleys

Ocean beyond

All full of creatures

living creature lives

while I walk in –

walk out

between the moments of their lives.