Vendee Eclogue by Bert Molsom

Vendee eclogue

The view is unencumbered

across marsh-flat fields

edged by dykes that keep

the land afloat.

Beyond the horizon is the sea.

No idyll plays here

in sunshine and golden fields.

There is little leisure,

the work is slow.

Eyes are bound to the soil,

not searching for the sea,

not waiting for tomorrow.

Bert Molsom 

Bert Molsom retired early to become an apprentice poet, fully understanding apprenticeships last a long time! He has been long-listed for the Bridport Prize, won Poetry on Loan 2016 and his work has been published by Anthropocene, Ink, Sweat and Tears, Acumen and The Ekphrastic Review (USA)

About This Poem

The poem arose from spending time on holiday in the Vendee and cycling out in to the surrounding countryside, sparsely populated and with small fields. Working the land is hard, unremitting and under appreciated and I tried to make the piece reflect this. My success is for others to judge!