There’s a dead sheep – swelling by the hedge
a woman standing by the cottage door,
a ghost
waiting for her man.
What should she do?
The sheep is dead with lamb wedged deep inside her.
Night creeps in
she lights the lamp
and paces.
The sheep is heavy
on her conscience now.
A female presence,
a legacy
of treachery from long ago.
Very enigmatic. Nothing weightier than a dead animal. It's a great symbol for guilt. I like the understatement in your poem Ann.
If you were living in the North you wouldn't be seeing any dead sheep by the side of the road - they'd be up and in someone's freezer.
darren thomas
Mon 7th Jan 2013 15:29
This feels very enigmatic. I'm more than curious and 'swelling by the hedge' is a great choice of words.
chilling!
But Happy New Year, Ann
Good return to form Ann. Happy New Year, regards,
Graham
This made me go "Oo". Power in understatement, sparse yet vivid. Good one.
tony sheridan
Fri 4th Jan 2013 20:27
Hi Ann. Nice one. Happy New Year. Take care, Tony.
Not sure quite where this came from - except I've seen a couple of them recently, at field's edges.
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Fkx
Sun 13th Jan 2013 10:47
There is a weight that a poet bears
although there along the edges the answers are scarce. There is a soothing undertone to this poem that allows what is not yet seen to comfort the begging heart of understanding. Thanks for sharing.