Chrissy Banks

The pink and the brown
 
So many times I walked
head down   half asleep
along that ordinary road to school

until the day I saw the cherry trees
sick of standing around bored and invisible
all at once dressed up

sinewy brown limbs
embellished with ruffles and frills
profligate pom poms
as if those trees were calling to passers-by
wanting to share the glee
at their flowering
with everyone

The petals that soon fell under my feet
were turning from pink to brown

I carried them inside me
the pink and the brown
I held them inside with the grey and blue
deep indigo of the Irish Sea
that lapped
and stormed
all around the borders
of my island home