6 APRIL 1985, Page 26

Seen in the Oak

I watch through the branches Of the oak tree, at the sky Twinkled there between the leaves, Blue stars cut out, twinkling. Look, There's Orion lying on that branch, The Big Dipper also Robbed of its vertigo.

Changes in the weather Play with layers in the mind, Even the spaces between leaves Are visions, the flowers solid Ghost, star-shaped.

The birthless, the sky-void Has been pulled down and balanced into this tree Which plays with it gracefully, The stars have flocked into this oak For safe-keeping Into the green planetarium In the sunshine.

Peter Redgrove