Another’s lilac

Its scent is its colour,

            thickened

                  to still me,

as I’m night-walking.

 Preening strangers’ hedgerows, a thief

     for black lilac.

     Already,

           stars.

 Shadow

     fattens the scent.

Perhaps a woman’s passing, her

                                    evoked throat: sole amethyst

leafed in jet, on silver wire.

 Night ripples –

         fingering the silks.

                                      If I’d a home:

 this garden, this woman.

 

[Third prize, City of Derby poetry competition, 2007.
Also published in Poetry Nottingham 62/2, 2008]

Anemones

Anemones

2 Responses to “Another’s lilac”

  1. Anne Says:

    November 11, 2013 at 12:31 pm

    Darkly sensual.

    Reply
  2. The rain poet Says:

    June 12, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    I love lilacs too, evocative tone matches their languorous scent.. But why a picture of anenomes?

    Reply

Leave a comment