Among the Valleys Low
Queen aloft
a pine-scrubbed glen.
Skin barked, butter browning
these dappled cores.
Loam raked over
by eager claws, shallow
the seeds of shame. Courage
nested twig-by-twig.
The health of soil can be
reasoned by inches.
Voice pitched moss-soft, tame
as young finches;
blushed undulations
of unseen waters
reflect back
the wisdom gained by
listening, listening.
Lindz McLeod
Lindz McLeod is a Scottish writer and performance poet. Her prose been published by the Scotsman, the Scottish Book Trust, 365 Tomorrows; and the Dundee V&A Museum. She has published poetry with Allegory Ridge, Passaic/Völuspá, For Women Who Roar, Coffin Bell, Selcouth Station and more. Lindz is the competition secretary of the Edinburgh Writer’s Club and holds a Masters in Creative Writing.
www.lindzmcleod.co.uk
Twitter: @lindzmcleod
About this poem
'I wrote this poem about my partner, as part of our discussions about how the physical landscapes of our respective countries have shaped us as people and as writers.'