green ash seeds whisper underfoot in the stone-paved alleyway of trees
rustic wooden benches converse silently, waiting patiently to be filled
the fairytale-hued giants play badminton on the lawn days without end
while we run around beneath and on them, like ants at our own picnic
bare brown feet frolicking and cavorting on summer sunlit evenings
—
let’s go to provence and hear the country folk speak in lavender tones
break crusty bread and inhale the scent of yeast and love and dreams
eat creamy white cheese, rub the soft noses of dark-eyed guernseys
raise our glasses and watch the dying sun sparkle in the red depths
—
let’s go sit with the ghosts of yesterday and ride the white horse vale
get sunburnt in the land of dragons picking daffodils on wild hills
swim offshore of pebbly beaches and then devour flaky sole fillets
lock ourselves in the tower and count every bridge on the thames
—
it’s summer, and the beauty of dreams must wait until tomorrow
atlas carried the world on his back but it’s palm-sized for Him
let my exhausted mind dissolve like cleopatra’s pearl in vinegar
the yellow croquet ball spins crazily across the green meadow
you are sun-browned, funny face, and my heart smiles again