Robin rummages in the rushes,
upon rock she roots out traces
of all that once was, tuts at all
that has changed and all that hasn’t.
Robin rummages in the rushes,
bright spark- but fast to flight.
She comes to call and comprehend
but never comes when she is called.
A fluttering of fine feathers
on front of old familiar fields
where the tracks have been pulled,
where all prints have been ploughed
but there are marks, still- fine folds
where the grass leans in, just so,
in suggestion of what once stood
in its way, of what once stood
in the field, beyond the rushes,
just a recall beyond the rock
where robin comes to rummage.
All words and photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
Damien B. Donnelly 
This is a poem that begs to be read aloud. I love the feel in my mouth of the repeated “robin rummages in the rushes” and the clever word play of “She comes to call and comprehend but never comes when she is called.” Most of all, Damien, I love the way that you beautifully evoke the themes of change and memory and how nature retains within itself traces of our personal past. I guess that is why we enjoy returning to formerly familiar places and in silence allow nature to sooth our souls.
It is so soothing, nature, isn’t it Mike. It’s constant, no matter what happens, it continues even when hope seems so far, when touch is distanced and loved ones are no more. And then there’s our Robin- who I am convinced is our Nana,
coming back, like nature, to see that’s happening, to remind us to keep our heads up and keep going. Take care my friend. Sorry I’ve been slow to reply, after 3 weeks of gardening we moved indoors and I am now painting and decorating the living room, on the last few chapters of editing the novel- only two left! And have written 49 poems so far since this isolation. And then there is food and baking! Distractions are sometimes exhausting 🙏🤗🤗☘️☘️
You put me to shame, Damien, with your productivity and level of activity. When is the novel slated to be published?
Well the poetry collection i hope later this year and the novel has yet to be confirmed by a publisher but fingers are crossed 🤞