The bus pulled away
and when you looked back
she had gone
you searched where

she had stood
until the bus turned
a corner and the scene
had changed

and you turned to the front
and sat wounded
and deflated
the evening sky

drawing in
the bus nigh on empty
except for you
and a few others

she said she had another
some guy from work
engaged now
and that was that

said kindly as such
but to your mind
and heart too much
and searched back

to the old days
the days when it all
seemed fresh
as fish just caught

that time by the pond
when she was late
and you wondered
if she'd come

and sat gazing across
the water's skin
seeing ducks and birds
and butterflies

but not her
and then she appeared
and was there
breathless and smiling

and saying
she had had to run
something about her mother
wanting chores done

and she sat beside you
and her arm looped yours
and she pulled you close
and kissed your cheek

and talked and talked
her head against your arm
and you listened
but half only

as you wanted to drink her in
each aspect of her
each particle of her being
her scent

her hair against you
the sound of voice
the tone
her hands across yours

her legs slightly uncovered
the shoes half off her feet
and o
she said

thought I'd not make it
thought you'd be gone
no not me
you said

always wait for you
and she smiled
and the sun was coming
through the trees

seeping through branches
dancing with leaves
or that other time
in the tall clover

near the run down cottage
she laying there
peasant like
semi clad

you lying beside her
hands on her thighs
that sweet spark
in her eyes

and what would mother say
if seeing such
she said
there in clover

not in bed
her talk of nature things
of butterflies or birds
or how her father's cigarette

hung from his lower lip
as he spoke
almost choking
in smoke

then the bus drew
into the town
and you saw
the empty shops

and street lights
and people walking home
or to the cinema
couples arm in arm

or holding hands
which took you back
to the old times
and dream lands.