Helen Cook
Lambing Shed, 2 am
I walk down to the lambing shed
smelt before seen
rank damp organic
it glows, a pool of honeyed light.
A still night
a bright blade of moon
scattering of stars
the air strafed by cold.
The ewes rustle in the musty straw
their bellies distended with wriggling life
they pant, silently eye this intruder
pupils slit like letter boxes.
I search for the one who has found
a corner, raking the ground
settles head thrown back
front legs set to take the strain.
She grunts shudders a black nose
bulges beneath her tail.
I cup my hand inside the hot squeeze
find the hooves pull gently.
Yellow sticky steaming
the lamb slips onto straw
soaked with birthing fluids.
Mother wickers and licks.
Flock’s breath ghosts the air
ice rimes the troughs
newborn nudges for a teat.
My fingers buried in oily fleece
we wait for the twin.
Waiting for the Woodpecker
This valley is a deep bowl
whipped with greens
scattered with dandelion seeds
where blackbird unspools
his evensong
swifts hunt end of day insects
crows loiter on
sycamore corners raucous with
laughter and threats
kites and buzzards circle
sharks in the sky shallows.
A ring of rapping
and there- a small dark wedge
digging for life in a die-back ash
evening woodpecker.
Soar float dip
soar float dip,
he lands in the apple tree
his red flash bright among the boughs
he talon grips the feeder
his slate bill rapiers peanuts
jab and jab and jab again
the back of his throat thick
with its coiled rope of tongue
head spots a blur of white.
Ten seconds-
he masters his fill
arrows his shape shrilling
across the pond- choking willows
to his drumming woods
as the trees pull the sun down
behind them.
Helen Cook lives near Llandysul, Ceredigion. Since retiring from teaching at the end of 2014, she has completed a BA in Creative Writing at Lampeter University and is now studying for an MA. She belongs to several writing groups, enjoys most forms of writing but poetry in particular. She has had some successes in competitions, gaining a 15th place in the International Welsh Poetry Competition 2018 and 6th place in this year's competition. Also in 2018 she was shortlisted in the PenFro poetry competition. In 2019 she was runner up in the R.S. Thomas Poetry Festival competition.