Gift of the Present
By Jing H
The turtle rests, snug in my palm,
A sun baked shell in a seaside pool,
Reflecting on the mysterious sky,
Tranquil in the waters cool.
A fleeting thought, whispered weight,
Brown-wing budgie, a laughing turtle
dove, chuckling, cocked its head
at me, and life, defying fate.
Gift of the present from a companion,
And though silent to the end,
It watches, counsels, listens, laughs,
Lingering presence of a long lost friend.
---
This poem was highly commended for Poetry Object 2013
Judge's notes:
This poem surprised me with its use of meter, its enjambment that emphasised the link between turtles and turtle doves, and its skilful assonance, consonance, and alliteration.
~ Rachael Briggs, Judge, Poetry Object 2013
