Old and new poets

A little Norman MacCaig for you -


Old Poet


The alder tree
shrivelled by the salt wind
has lived so long
it has carried and sheltered
it's own weight
of nests.


There's a curious significance in that piece as the book I snaffled it from has his poems published in chronological order and this is his first poem from 1965. Therefore is was probably written within a few days of my birth in one direction or the other. With that in mind, I have taken the following liberty.


New Poet


The alder sapling,
pushed gently by the breeze.
Soft green leaves,
barely uncurled,
are unaware of the coming years
or the weight
of nests.