The Forgotten Orchard of Craiglockhart by Jonathan Memel

Title: The Forgotten Orchard of Craiglockhart
Author: Jonathan Memel
Number: 10/100
Allocated postcode: EH14

The Forgotten Orchard of Craiglockhart

The trees rose from the grass,
poking their years fruit towards me.
Crab; Bramley; Dabinnett and Tremlett;
the booty of a hard Scottish year.

Not the hardest though.
Years before, Angus the shell-shocked
and Dougie the fruit loop
had collected these apples,
just as I do.

Branches shake,
trunks tremble —
missiles of red and green
blur
and tumble
and cascade,

this treasure that had calmed the insane
was golden
and bright.
It tasted of hope
on a September afternoon.

The tenements to the east,
like dungeons
loomed.