Snowdrops

February is the month for snowdrops - my favourite flowers. I celebrate them in a poem written as I share my daughter's sorrow that, because her mind and thoughts are troubled, the child she loves has been brought up in another family. This poem can be found in Clarissa (chipmunkapublublishing), as well as in Uninivited Guest (Triangle/SPCK

Snowdrops

She grew slender as a snowdrop,
loved defenceless things:
seals, and that tremulous pearl
the ebb of summer light leaves
where waves have been.

She traced angels’ wings
on stone and cloud

at length blossomed forth
her own dear sundered bud.

Each spring in city gardens
snowdrops defy the winds of winter,
light lean Lenten flames.

These storm-tossed flowers
are not more brave and gentle
than a young mother
required to relinquish
the child of her heart.