Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Esther Raab

Cocklebur pierced red loam

Cocklebur pierced red loam
and spilled like milk
across the ground;
and at night a moon licks
saucers of milk swaying
on slender stalks,
the clouds extend their trail-of-white,
dip in the froth of blossoming
flooding cocklebur,
and green bee-eaters in masses
gurgle and go berserk,
fill their bellies
with swarming insects
in saucers of white cocklebur;
screw bean smothers cocklebur
lest it also conquer the sand;
smell of soft screw bean, leaking
and smell of pungent cocklebur leaping –
each to the other tightly adhering
and filling expanses of flat
red loam in its clods.

Cocklebur pierced red loam

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Cocklebur pierced red loam

Cocklebur pierced red loam
and spilled like milk
across the ground;
and at night a moon licks
saucers of milk swaying
on slender stalks,
the clouds extend their trail-of-white,
dip in the froth of blossoming
flooding cocklebur,
and green bee-eaters in masses
gurgle and go berserk,
fill their bellies
with swarming insects
in saucers of white cocklebur;
screw bean smothers cocklebur
lest it also conquer the sand;
smell of soft screw bean, leaking
and smell of pungent cocklebur leaping –
each to the other tightly adhering
and filling expanses of flat
red loam in its clods.

Cocklebur pierced red loam

Cocklebur pierced red loam
and spilled like milk
across the ground;
and at night a moon licks
saucers of milk swaying
on slender stalks,
the clouds extend their trail-of-white,
dip in the froth of blossoming
flooding cocklebur,
and green bee-eaters in masses
gurgle and go berserk,
fill their bellies
with swarming insects
in saucers of white cocklebur;
screw bean smothers cocklebur
lest it also conquer the sand;
smell of soft screw bean, leaking
and smell of pungent cocklebur leaping –
each to the other tightly adhering
and filling expanses of flat
red loam in its clods.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère