Time Traveller

Back in time across the fallen tree river bridge,
where farmhands guide horses pulling ploughs
through fields of meadow flowers
to unspoilt Podebłocie
in the forest heart of Poland.

We built a simple base-camp in a clearing
near a shady spring of pure cold water.
We hung muslin larders from the branches,
the smell of honey luring
invading swarms of wasps.

We spent dirty, dusty days digging,
unearthing coins and other treasures –
mementoes of the even further past –
a perfect Iron Age fort
in the forest heart of Poland.

Evening’s sudden cold drew us to the campfire,
blinking smoke from our eyes, drinking wine from a bottle.
While Janek strummed the Podebłocie Blues,
we gazed at the black night sky.

We watched satellites blink silently overhead,
threading their way through Orion’s belt,
travellers from the Space Age
to the ancient heart of Poland.


originally for a Writer's Island prompt.
reposted for Darkskies2010

You can also read two haiku I wrote for Darkskies 2010 here.