Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed - E. E. Rhodes
Long-listed written pieces of 250 words or under submitted to the 2021 Urban Tree Festival writing competition on the theme of “trees close to you”
Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed
Welsh - literally ‘to come back to my trees’ but meaning to find balance or to return to a calm state of mind.
From the attic frost window I see half of six trees. A sprig of green,
bright against thistled slate, crumbled brick,
and the thick mercury of windows,
whispering me outdoors in a leaf lined silence,
‘dod yn ôl at fy nghoed’.
I press my face to the glass that divides us, hoping
and hoping for a close to the gritted separation.
Waiting for the trickled promise of walking green.
On the streets and in the leaves I hear, ‘dod yn ôl at fy nghoed’.
In winter, a stick of punctuation, an exclamation in the sky.
In spring, just a promise, a beginning, try anew.
In summer, a crown, a stilt lofted panoply, a corona of joy.
In autumn, a falling, soft limb fruited or prickle sweet nut lean.
In the seasonal itch, I watch from the window, looking
for six half trees who are bright calling me home.
At the end of this year I will come back to my trees.
Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed.
Back to my trees and a balance and calm.
E. E. Rhodes is an archaeologist who lives in Worcestershire, with her partner, a lot of books, and a horde of mice in the wainscotting. @electra_rhodes
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