This poem, is part of a projected series of poems about the concept of ‘terroir’ in France. ‘Sécheresse’ is published in ‘Diverse City 2017’, Austin International Poetry Festival, 2017.
Sécheresse
Early april barely budded trees stretch down the scorched streets. Powdered blood and bonemeal in the fields. The dark red disordered rush of poppies runs dry. Dried blood into dried mud. Late august leaves crumpled and curled like parchment on parched pavements. They waft through the windows we keep open to trick the heat into running through and away. The dust and rust of the colours of the land sucked up into bushes and trees. Celery radish asparagus strawberry then broad bean and pea and already the pears and the plums. Market stall produce gallops past like mercury sprinters like relay runners briefly abreast and then gone. And in the supermarkets seasons gathered together corralled and tethered under thermostatic control. Everything here in these arid spaces.
