I wrote this piece in South Western France, in the Aquitaine region near Bordeaux, in the heart of wine country, where we had a holiday home which was a wonderful converted mill, surrounded by vines and open farmland, and where the panoramic views over the countryside were spectacular.
La Belle France is always a source of great inspiration for me, and I love spending time there.
From: Secret Garden of the Soul 2006
Vines
Row upon row
Of vines.
Perfectly planted
Meticulously tended
Vines.
Which
At first glance
Appear
As if marching
In unison
Across the landscape.
A procession
Of unerring precision
Determined
To carry their crop,
Opaque green jewels,
To ripe readiness
For their succulent,
Plump
Purple picking:
Then
Total transformation
Into rich
Ruby red wine
For
Our lips,
Dipping
And
Sipping.