Child of Nature

by Paul Daly

Sweetness muffled in a jumper
Invites to tea and supper
Friendship cold and sober,
Slipping into something warmer.

Love so soft as feather light
Tickles temper to such a pitch,
Sloping down on gentle ditch,
Dizzy heights collapse in spite.

Such ecstasy each taste
Mouth begs mouth for more,
Promising tongue delivers
Posting in door with haste.

Delighted loves company
To cheer up her lonely nights,
Chaste breath by candle light,
Eyes dance so as bees bumble

Until hearts so filled with peace,
Smoothed with moist and simple fill,
Lie as a river through a hill
Drifting with such artless ease

As a sleepy float on a canal,
Tender holding water’s mouth,
Washing in and washing out,
Against slippery bank propels

Simple open mouthed wonder,
Blowing fringed curtain of hair
To one side to let in air,
Light, sun, wind, fun, surf, wet, care,

Whiling away days, spilling nights
Into sleep’s soft encased spool,
Winding up threads of thought as wool
Through fingers running willing

Into gentle cog, soft bundle
Being trussed by Time as a gift,
A fresh seed in an egg shrift
Springs up to grow in wonder’s

Surprise, peering at surroundings,
Pale wine pours in a glass darkly,
Head and legs getting giddy
As soft parachute plummeting

Up and up and up pulling,
Small mouth kisses the moon
Then bounces back down again
Against time’s cord relaxing

Till release in stretched living.

Birthday candle’s already lit
In the beginning.
Must wait for celebration.
Bridal beauty stoops to sit.

Such a delicate head’s eye,
A dew drop on a frail grass blade
(Bending on each sweet breath made
In Mother’s Temple like the sigh

Of Hope’s Goddess once worshipped
In Spring with fragrant lily
White purity of soul,
Breasts issuing a sea of milk)

Dimly sees, such a tiny ear,
Muffed in a blanket of sound
(A horn blessing with wind blowing
With cheer the news of the year,

Springs into simple life and good,
Jumps with somersaulting ease
To autumn’s harvest falling trees,
Pending winter’s humour to ski abroad)

Cocked in cottoned time can hear,
So matchless nostrils may sniff
Humorously at home such stuff
To stoke with lung’s air heart’s fire,

Legs using clay’s silent claim,
Head a friend to air, apparent,
Eyes flame in bowelled delight,
Mouth washes through to other end.

Small mouth to such gentle goodness
On breast’s aproned lap tight
(A strawberry on cream delight)
Might smile at coming happiness.

Short gate opens, pain still slim,
Out of this gate aeons will slip,
Upside down tumble, sideways trip,
From limbo slide buttered limbs

On to bread-white sheet sandwich,
Wrap around, fold neatly,
Free presence press on belly,
Mother’s mouth-watering thought.

Treasured seed’s become a pearl
More precious than any bought,
Jewel of a million years sought
Peeps from eyes of tiny girl.

Breasts prepare for holding mouth,
Body ready to shudder,
Pain soothed by a bright picture
Of the girl when she comes out,

Communion dress patched on the back,
Rosary beads stick from pocket,
Short journey up the aisle starts,
Genuflecting to receive the host.

IAHIP 2022 - INSIDE OUT 98 - Autumn 2022