Poetry by Clare Best

What it takes

1. A rush of growth - Cherry Holt, Leeks Land, Gull Field
all have greens to astonish. 2. An arrival:
parachute in or walk

across the Wash, try to arrive on time.
3. Gates, five-bar, grey-weathered, the perfect height
to lean on and look.

4. A good pair of eyes. 5. A Bramley orchard
and under the trees a scatter of turkeys
in Bourbon Red, Lavender Blue. 6. Enough sun

then rain to heal any breaks in the mud.
7. Barn owl, skylark, sedgegrass, earthworm,
some of each. 8. Blackthorn hedges -

shelter for Longwool sheep.
9. An unclouded sky for storms to invade.
10, 11 & 12. Assorted brassica seed.