Muddy Boots
It has been a wet autumn, mud and decaying leaves cling to my boots.
I sniff the earthy damp, breathe deeply, know the Scyppend’s Work.
In the beginning, after the chaos, silence came cloaked in darkness.
Out of silence came Light and the Whispered Word the Scyppend Spoke.
Among the many things the Scyppend made were seeds for trees,
and in the seeds lay hidden embryonic leaves, to clothe the trees.
Seasons gave them birth, green life burst out to shout the joy of all that is.
With the turning of the green to red, to yellow, to rusty brown came rest and fall.
It has been a wet autumn, mud and decaying leaves cling to my boots.
I see the Scyppend’s plan was all provision for our Whispered World,
small details reveal the Mystery of the Scyppend’s Love:
mud from my boots and loamy leaves to nourish roots of trees.
** Halig Scyppend(OE): Holy Creator, Shaper of the world
Susan Brice lives in Derbyshire with her husband, Richard and her canine companion Sunny. Walking the dog and observing the work of the Creator seem to go hand in hand, Seeing nature in all its many moods and colours has inspired her to write a collection of contemplative poems entitled Brushstrokes of the Ultimate Artist (2024), available from Amazon.
Susan’s poem ‘Canvas’ and her essay, ‘No Great Busyness’ have both appeared on Amethyst Review. Her poem ‘Pause’ was included in All Shall Be Well: New Poems for Julian of Norwich. She produced a collection of short stories in 2015, Returning Back and other short stories (Amazon). In 2022 Susan collaborated with fellow poets, Viv Longley and Jane Keenan to publish the poetry anthology Daughters of Thyme (dotipress.com). Viv, Jane & Susan met through the Open University Masters Degree in Creative Writing and are currently working on a second poetry anthology, Home Thyme, which will be available in October 2024.
Amethyst Review 