Jane opened her hands
and the butterfly
fluttered off
across the grass
and you watched
and she told you
what its name was
and its colouring
but you
were more focused
on her hands
the fingers held so
as if Michaelangelo
might have
painted them
in a creative urge
to pin down
an example
of beauty
and as her voice
spoke on
you saw the hands
come together
and embrace
and caress
each other
as you both walked
along the lane
between
high hedges
first this finger pointed
then that
gesturing towards
this flower
then that
names came
and colouring
and her voice sang
as she talked
the words
being flung
in the air
like a juggler's *****
and you reached out
to catch each word
and place
its meaning
but her eyes
caught you
the colour
the brightness
and fires flamed there
and they grow
only here
she said
so I’ve read
her words said
and the lips parted
just to allow
words to go
like busy bees
to work
and the glimpse
of teeth and tongue
and what do you think?
she said
beautiful stuff
you replied
not quite
the words
you wished for
but which came
like lazy boy's
to school
they are
she said smiling
her hands parting
one reaching
for yours
O that
may have been Heaven
for all you knew
a bright
sun-blessed smile
out of the blue.
Jan 1, 2014
Jan 1, 2014 at 5:37 AM UTC
Jane opened her hands
and the butterfly
fluttered off
across the grass
and you watched
and she told you
what its name was
and its colouring
but you
were more focused
on her hands
the fingers held so
as if Michaelangelo
might have
painted them
in a creative urge
to pin down
an example
of beauty
and as her voice
spoke on
you saw the hands
come together
and embrace
and caress
each other
as you both walked
along the lane
between
high hedges
first this finger pointed
then that
gesturing towards
this flower
then that
names came
and colouring
and her voice sang
as she talked
the words
being flung
in the air
like a juggler's *****
and you reached out
to catch each word
and place
its meaning
but her eyes
caught you
the colour
the brightness
and fires flamed there
and they grow
only here
she said
so I’ve read
her words said
and the lips parted
just to allow
words to go
like busy bees
to work
and the glimpse
of teeth and tongue
and what do you think?
she said
beautiful stuff
you replied
not quite
the words
you wished for
but which came
like lazy boy's
to school
they are
she said smiling
her hands parting
one reaching
for yours
O that
may have been Heaven
for all you knew
a bright
sun-blessed smile
out of the blue.
A BOY AND GIRL IN 1960 AT THE FOOT OF THE DOWNS
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