There is a certain late October light
as clouds gather a promise of rain tomorrow
when the sun's angle suggests I could count every leaf
on the big oak where I once sheltered coatless
from a summer downpour
drops fell from the branches
on my face to wet my lips and the taste of oak
surprised me
lasting past my licking away and strong
like iron so that it brought a sense of heartwood
ribs holding great ships of thick beams
in my old house resisting every nail or drill
blackened over the inglenook and unforgiving
to an un-ducked head
I walked away the taste stayed on my tongue
of all houses and times I left behind
soaked into my bones become heartwood
Angela France’s publications include Occupation (Ragged Raven, 2009), Lessons in Mallemaroking (Nine Arches, 2011), Hide (Nine Arches 2013) and The Hill (Nine Arches 2017). The Hill was developed into a multi-media poetry show which Angela toured, funded by Arts Council England. Her latest collection, Terminarchy, came out from Nine Arches in Summer 2021. Angela teaches creative writing at the University of Gloucestershire and in community settings. She runs the monthly reading series in Cheltenham, "Buzzwords".
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