Middlemay
On a buoyant bed we stretch
Beneath the warm blue woven blanket sky
Rocked by the brown water’s rolling tide
Trying to catch
Sticks of marsh grass with our toes as they drift by
Swiftly on a cold current too busy to bide.
Yesterdays rain has swollen the river
Lifted the floating dock high and beat the trees
Until they dropped their leaves and twigs and budding flowers
In a fragrant carpet that we crushed
Under our shoes on the path this afternoon
The wind which all last night moaned and made us shiver
Sleepless in our beds is now a breeze
Cooling our sun seared backs and sending showers
Of sparkling droplets to sprinkle our flushed
Arms and faces, we’ll be going home soon.
Time hurries and the tide, I’d like to sketch
In simple lines, in sculpture try
With awkward hands to shape, or in clumsy words confide
This unbounded joy, oh generous giver
Of all things good and perfect, thank you! please
Preserve the feelings of these few sacred hours
Ever in heart’s memory as they are now, hushed
Bright, clear and deep, with all the promises of June.