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Bristol , United Kingdom
Poet and poetry facilitator. Pushcart Prize nominated. Co-founder of the Leaping Word Poetry Consultancy, which provides advice for poets on writing, editing and publishing, as well as qualified counselling support for those exploring personal issues in their work - https://theleapingword.com. My sixth poetry collection, Love the Albatross, is now available from Indigo Dreams or directly from me.

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Clearing: A Poem for International Women's Day 2017


Clearing


'Home is within you, or home is nowhere at all' 
                     Hermann Hesse


Know your empty place, make it home
Scar tissue’s intractable, dead
It’s your wound that will remind you
who you are. Walk its edges,
test its depth, map its contours
your geography of loss

The trees might seem distant
They’re eating sunlight, snagging cloud
When night comes they’ll slip a spoke
in the turning wheel of stars
They won’t mind if you touch them
print their bark on the skin of your face

listen for the fizzing sap
rising in your veins



©Deborah Harvey 2016 


Art by Dru Marland 

3 comments:

  1. Hi Deborah
    I enjoyed your Poem. I expect there are many survivors of abuse trying to make an empty place a home. I like the structure, as well.
    I am also a Bristol Poet and recently started a blog: it would be nice if you have time for a quick look.

    Thank You. (https://kenhallettblog.wordpress.com)

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  2. Takes me to the landscape of my inner emptiness as a victim of childhood abuse. That wound where love could have been.

    Thank You

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  3. Hello Ken - thanks for your comment. I'm glad my poem spoke to you. I'll take a look at your blog.

    ReplyDelete