DAWN... (My new poem inspired by a Peter Brook painting...)

 Dawn…

(My new poem inspired by Peter Brook’s painting…)

He really didn’t want to be found. Nothing serious

You understand, just a matter of a rabbit or two

Poached. It wasn’t his fault though cuz his dad was hurt

In a factory accident and couldn’t work but his mum had her kids to feed.  

He was the oldest of seven you see and they all needed to eat.

He nearly got away too but the farmer was furious

When he caught him scurrying along a stone wall, in view

Of his shotgun and the old chap gave chase, his language vicious and curt

But the lad found spiky grass to hide in, wet with dew and rueing his misdeed,

His boots were soaked with animal blood and were chilling his sore feet.

The dawn though had mesmerised him, its pinks glorious,

But though the walls hid him in their shade, through the gap he spotted a few 

Curious sheep which gawped  back at him with quizzical expressions, yet alert

And they involuntarily threatened to give him away, this staring ovine breed, 

Accusing with staring eyes and forcing the boy into a rapid, tense and hurried retreat…

Pete Ray…

18th February 2026…  

A lovely sky, a golden field and almost cartoon-like sheep stare…

I imagined a young lad after rabbits on a farmer’s land being chased but getting away, then hiding, until the sheep spooked him into rushing away…

The thoughts of the Sand Martin...

'The faces of four staring sheep look outwards towards the viewer in this idyllic painting of a rural scene. They are well spaced and look as if standing stock still. The rear of a fifth sheep is just apparent within what appears to be a cosy and contained spot almost surrounded by dark stone walls. 

Two substantial almost vertical dark stone gateposts without a gate allow the viewer access into this beautiful and almost private scene. 

Behind the vista of the sheep is a sloping stonewall that completes the framing of these farm animals. Their inbred characteristics to be alert to the slightest possible danger and to all follow suit bring all faces up from constant grazing towards any possible intrusion or threat. So while an onlooker looks at them they look back and outwards from this painting. 

The range of bright warm colours and tones around the sheep together with their whiteness draws the eye to focus on the sheep and particularly the one mid-centre of the gatepost framing. 

The apricot to blue grey of the sky foretells a bright warm day ahead and it seems very early with grey mist in the far distance. Maybe a glint of sunlight has lit up the grass around the sheep to such stunning effect. Tall dark green grass in the foreground has a sharpness of texture against the soft low grass at each side giving yet another contrast of texture that makes this agricultural scene so realistic and true to life in every small exquisite detail.'