Look at that Tortoiseshell
Jane said
as you stood
in the churchyard
of Diddling Church
you watched
the butterfly
pass by
and took in
its beautiful
colouring
don’t you just love butterflies?
she said
holding her hands
together as if
she were about
to pray
she was wearing
a short sleeved
flowery dress
and her dark hair
had a pink slide in it
which you gazed at
as she turned her head
to follow the progress
of the Tortoiseshell
along the sky
Never saw many butterflies
in the part of London
I came from
you said
mostly white things
with patterned wings
well now you can see
many different kinds
she said
turning to look at you
her eyes settling on you
like the butterfly had
on the flowers
in the churchyard
sure I can
you said
maybe I’ll get a book
on them
you added
she smiled
and came to you
and took your hand
and you sensed
her warmness
in your hand
felt her skin
touching yours
and she led you
over the grass
and you both lay down
a little distance
from the nearest
gravestone
and she said
my daddy says
the sky above
our heads
is the promise of Heaven
and you gazed at her
as she studied
the blue sky and white clouds
moving above
and you sighed softly
at her nearness
and an unfathomable love.
Oct 18, 2012
Oct 18, 2012 at 2:23 AM UTC
Look at that Tortoiseshell
Jane said
as you stood
in the churchyard
of Diddling Church
you watched
the butterfly
pass by
and took in
its beautiful
colouring
don’t you just love butterflies?
she said
holding her hands
together as if
she were about
to pray
she was wearing
a short sleeved
flowery dress
and her dark hair
had a pink slide in it
which you gazed at
as she turned her head
to follow the progress
of the Tortoiseshell
along the sky
Never saw many butterflies
in the part of London
I came from
you said
mostly white things
with patterned wings
well now you can see
many different kinds
she said
turning to look at you
her eyes settling on you
like the butterfly had
on the flowers
in the churchyard
sure I can
you said
maybe I’ll get a book
on them
you added
she smiled
and came to you
and took your hand
and you sensed
her warmness
in your hand
felt her skin
touching yours
and she led you
over the grass
and you both lay down
a little distance
from the nearest
gravestone
and she said
my daddy says
the sky above
our heads
is the promise of Heaven
and you gazed at her
as she studied
the blue sky and white clouds
moving above
and you sighed softly
at her nearness
and an unfathomable love.
A BOY AND GIRL IN A CHURCHYARD IN 1961 AND A LOVE
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