The Wild Bit

The Wild Bit is torn.
Ragged now.
A scar made by degrees.
The first sap drawn
by lion-toothed chainsaws
that ripped bark and root,
then left it to bleed.
Whilst planners unrolled
isometric projections
and peered again
through theodolites.
Next came yellow machines,
spitting smoke,
jaws jagged and low-slung,
that scooped up
bramble and grass.
debrided it like skin
and chucked it aside.
Now there is a chain link fence,
yellow hard hats,
more noise than ever
it heard before.
When they are done
the wildest thing there
will be named like
‘Bramble Grove’, ‘Willow Way’.
Token reminders
of what there used to be.

***

Miki Byrne has had three poetry collections published and had work included in over 170 poetry magazines and anthologies. She has read on Radio and TV and is active on the spoken word scene in Cheltenham. Miki also ran a poetry writing group at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury. Miki began performing her poems in a bikers club in Birmingham. She is disabled and now lives near Tewkesbury. Gloucestershire. UK.