Dorothy Pope

Family Home, Lincolnshire

and from the summerhouse, the viewis, first, that unmarked area of grass,where stood the Air Force quarters of a fewof England’s Few, that rings with silent laughs,our chipping green for practice golf. Beyond —the orchard’s gorgeous blossom, later fruitfor village children and the Anderson,now apple store. Then, topiary in privetand in box; my sculptor’s hands

No Picnic

Ironically, they rode a tandem bike,that warring pair, though any two less like to live in tandem would be hard to find.He rode in front. She took the seat behind. They quarrelled as they puffed up Devon hills.‘You pedalling?’ ‘Of course!’ ‘I swear it feels as if you’re not,’ he snarled. He spoke his mind.She

Cool Morning

Mid-August, even so, a faint hint, giftof autumn momentarily — a sweetsoft breeze. With slender branches trees entreata sift of foliage. Their fingers lift.Then half a dozen paper leaves adriftblow in and dance round summer-sandalled feet,though brief, their restlessness another fleetingsign of imminent and massive shift.The season’s on the very cusp. We’ll seethe great sun