Marking Time

Leaf 238 – Reflections

 

John Burgess - Yews in a Country Churchyard (date unknown) British Museum

Yew trees are often very long-lived and are usually found growing in English churchyards. The reason for this, I think I remember reading somewhere, is likely due to a more ancient sacred association between the yew and the dead which predates the arrival of Christianity in the British Isles – hence the (self-reflective) pun in this poem of “old yew” and “old you.”

 

 

Marking time –

an old yew

by the lych gate.

 

 

 

 This poem was originally written and posted on Bluesky in response to a #haikuchallenge writing prompt: 'yew.'