kestrel hovering 

tail fanned out against the wind 

still above the cars

woodland gate shaped by 

years of opening and shutting 

to blend with the trees

skeleton leaf lies 

like a light threadbare cover 

on new tender grass

paper-white flowers 

perfectly cut and folded - 

the perfume is real

dandelion clocks 

count down the hours of summer 

we can't catch the seeds

surface of the lake 

veined with reflections of trees - 

last face of winter

in shallow water 

fish glide between earth and sky 

like fallen petals

black swan swimming past

watercolour scenery

under liquid sky

the dawn chorus starts 

sun filters through the curtains - 

a new beginning

morning mist comes in 

breaking like a tidal wave 

over the valley

bare winter branches 

blossom with moon-sized petals -

high tide of flowers

I looked at my child 

new born, a perfect windfall - 

now a mother too

the bark of a tree 

etched to a rugged landscape 

by insects' travels

glimpses of water 

through narrow tree-trunk windows 

blue cathedral light

ducks swim quickly by 

followed by their feathered wakes 

on sky-blue water

early morning light 

filters through the garden gate 

shadows graze the grass

one sun in the sky 

but many small suns shining 

brightly on the ground

pattern of branches 

black scribbles on the blue sky  -

I paint in the leaves

last year's leaves falling

among the new spring flowers -

old nourishing young

sparkling spider's web

traps the early morning sun 

like a bright fly's wing

walking the edges 

on a winding path between

earth sky and water

water weed swirling 

shape-shifting in the shallows 

the breeze in my hair

shaded by pine trees 

still lily pool ringed by gorse 

space to sit and talk

a veil of mist lies 

across the hills, snagging on 

brambles like barbed wire

among the long grass 

in a neglected garden 

primroses shelter

a ginger stoat ran 

quickly in front of the car

as if pulled by string

a pheasant flew up 

flapping like a tartan shawl

blown across the sky

baler twine knotted 

worn and frayed around a post -

strands of blue ivy

the horse chestnut buds 

crack open and spread green hands 

to warm in the sun

on the high chalk downs 

trees are still like cold white bones 

locked in frozen soil