The Illustrated Tigress of Raynes Park     

 

                    

 

~ Earth in May ~

 

Auntie May, daughter and spinster of Bescar lane,

Brown worn wrinkles from the sun, and tilling soil,

Counting years as the century toiled and danced,

Chuckling and whistling singing in long socks,

Whistling, Lancastrian lyrics with tools and trowel,

Whilst sowing seeds, removing weeds and harvest time,

Nurturing cabbages, carrots and sprouts for market sale,

Grown sweet succulent tomatoes she always eats with salt,

Weighing crops, and counting imperial money,

Stoking coal for warming after storms and gales,

Jubilee mugs and chiming clocks around the hearth,

Reads Ormskirk advertiser to get news and gossip,

Discussing agricultural prospects and prices over ale,

When it’s time to take leave; know you’ve conversed with earth.