Jane and you stood
in the church porch

as rain fell
making large splashes

on the path
that led from the lane

to the church
and the sky was dark

and the clouds heavy
with more rain

like pregnant sheep
and you said

Don’t think
we’re going to make

the Downs today
so what should we do?

she looked out
at the rainfall

the drips from the porch roof
making puddles

by the entrance
and the wind was getting up

and she shivered
and said

Either we go into the Parsonage
or sit in the church

but the church’ ll be cold
and maybe

if we’re not noisy
Daddy’ ll let us sit

and talk in the lounge
and you looked at her

and she looked at you
and you said

Ok let’s go
to the Parsonage

and into the warm and dry
and she nodded

and so together
holding hands

you ran through the rain
to the Parson’s house

and went in
by the back door

and into the warmth
of the kitchen

where you both stood
drench and looking drowned

and her mother
stood there

staring at you both
her eyes on you

standing there
in your old coat and jeans

and Jane wet through
so that her dress

clung to her
outlining her figure

and plastering
her dark hair

to her face
and her mother said

Where have you been
and how wet you have got?

and she looked at you
and said

Best get you dry young man
don’t want you

getting a death
and she smiled

and Jane looked at her
and you and her eyes

sparkled like stars
on a winter’s night

and you smiled too
relieved that all

would be good
and all right.