Under a shadowed bower
Of olive green scented leaves
I fall into morose reflection
As the heart grieves
For a love that was barely begun

For there was a time of you and me
In summer fields of broken hay
Where we spent our childhood years
Dancing amongst butterflies at play
And laughter came before the tears

How brief those hours in the sun
Before clouds gathered over the summer day
And a letter arrived at your door
I can still see the words pulling you away
A call for country, a call for war

I remember the day I said goodbye
There were no promises given
A brief hug, a touch of a hand
Then the train steamed out of the station
Taking you away to a distant land

For a year we kept in touch. Though
Letters were few and far between
I remember how the ink was smeared
On paper that had once been clean
Then the last, the last that came
Words written strong and unfeared

I opened the letter, to find crushed
Petals, placed between each page
A memory of our sweet meadow summer
While around you a war continued to rage
Words written, as if love would give you armour

Your body came home soon after
Your time with me frozen, as you were laid
To rest under branches of an old summer tree
I bring flowers each day, so the scent won’t fade
A reminder of summer, and you and me