Today is Day 557 of the daily poems. Our poet Colin Hopkirk brings us this portrait of the Camí de Cavalls, an ancient path that encircles the island of Menorca. The poem tells of a walk in the heat of the sun. It has a poignant resonance in the light of the recent tragedy on the island of Symi in the Dodecanese. Colin reminds us of “the importance / of water and food / especially water “… but oh! the scent of the maquis!
Camí Cavalls
I would tell you about the walk
the heat of the sun
the stones resounding
the need to plan ahead
of the importance
of water and food
especially water
I would tell you about
what they call maquia
wild olives
the scent of pines
I would tell you about birds
the hoopoe’s call
the kite’s shadow
the high cries of swifts
last I would tell you
of reaching the cove
of that moment when
turning a corner
all becomes clear
how sudden this is
the cliffs, the beach
the colours of sea
I would tell you about how this feels
this moment of arrival
I would try and fail
I’m doing it now
Colin Hopkirk