Looking Back

Poetry Lunch on the Helford


for Penny and Caroline

Be good, said the man to his beagle
Be quiet, said the woman to the seagull

Move, said the wind to the water
Stay, say the roses to the old wall

Walk, said my mind to my feet
Come, said the path, stop, said the fence

Remember, say the poems, remember, remember
Listen, says the wind hearing our voices

Leave, says the boat
Let them go, says the wind, moving away

Stay, say the roses on the cottage wall
Hush, says the water to the wind

Blue, green and black says the sky to the river
and all this time, the good beagle said nothing at all.

drafted 15th September 2010