To the moon and over the stars in a cupboard of love – a poem by Ruth Gilchrist

To the moon and over the stars in a cupboard of   love

Sugar lumps; mixed white and brown
rough cut, tumbled up.
One for the cup, one for the pocket
one for the pony (strong, warm, nuzzle up).
…………..Come chil’ see the ripple in my muscle
…………..that’s the ripple of the earth rising up as The Andes.
…………..Climb up here we’ll away and see.
…………..Feel the thrill, smell the fear, sense the   climb.
 
Apples; golden, green or russet
orchard fresh or winter press.
One for the bowl, one with cheese
one for the pony (strong, warm, nuzzle up).
…………..Come chil’ see the steam from my nostrils
…………..it’s the steam from the geysers bursting through Icelandic crust.
…………..Spring up here and we’ll away and see.
…………..Feel the pulse, smell the sweat, sense the   life.

Carrots; round or enormous
long or weirdest of all.
One for the nammet,* one for the soup
one for the pony (strong ,warm, nuzzle up).
…………..Come chil’ see the blaze on my forelock
…………..it’s a lightning blaze across the Mongolian plain.
…………..Hold up here we’ll away and see.
…………..Feel the rain, smell new grass, sense the   age.
 
Water; clear crystal, cold
fresh from the river or tap.
Bowl for the bird, glass for me
bucket for the pony (strong, warm, nuzzle up).
…………..Come chil’ see the waves in my tail
…………..they’r the waves of the sea that meet The Namib.
…………..Ride up here and we’ll away and see.
…………..Feel the spray, smell the dust, sense the   stars.
 
Hay; could only be ‘well got’
sweet and tangled.
Strand behind the ear, some caught in my boot
a bag for the Pony (strong, warm, nuzzle up).
…………..Come chil’ your head on my chest
…………..a place for you to rest.
…………..Slip up here and we’ll away and see.
…………..Feel the cool night air, smell saddle soap, sense the   dreams.

*nammet; term used on the Isle of Wight to refer to a packed lunch.

Ruth Gilchrist is a Scottish based writer. A member of EyeWrite and Dunbar’s Writing Mums. “Writer of the Year 2015” Tyne and Esk. Ruth collaborates with museums, photographers, film poems, radio and musicians. Poems published in Snakesin and Scrivens webzines and the SouthBank poetry magazine Southlight and The Eildon Tree. Also in various anthologies, including the Federation of Writers Scotland.