Around Teseguite

margarita, pimpinella, rough hawkbit, catsear
purple flowering eichium and bugloss 
yellow and white flowered cress, aulaga and speedwell 

all insisting that their names be said out loud
- a campo recitative, half said and half sung 

where the green of the island begins to bloom 

whilst cirrus wisps and twists high above us - 
ethereal clouds curling at the highest of heights
mares' tails trailing, made from crystals of ice

and so you capture this fresh afternoon
how we picnicked opposite that grand ruined house
- chickpea salad, thermos of black coffee

whilst an army of hairy caterpillars, busy
in their military manoeuvres surrounded us 
wobbling, crawling, invading and creeping

turning their expressive filaments 
and twisting their striped torsos 
like trapeze artists at Cirque de Soleil 

along the Canarian stock with its silvery stem 
then vanishing deep in the vetch:
pink maroon flowers with curling tendrils

whilst the buzzing flies pestered