JANE AND THE HOLLY BLUE.

A GIRL WATCHES A BUTTERFLY ON THE SUSSEX DOWN IN 1961

It's a Holly Blue
Jane mused
watching the butterfly
flutter past

sitting on the Downs
not seen one for ages
she thought
seeing it flutter

over the ground
then up and up
then downward go
the other day

it'd been
the Dingy Skipper
fluttering past
her head

as she sat and thought
on Benedict
the London boy
who'd come and lived

by the Downs
with his parents
and whom she liked
and secretly

she mused
she loved -
not telling him
as such-

yes the Holly blue
how it thrilled her
watching it flutter
on its way

unaware she watched
its flight and journey
in its insect world
then it had gone

from sight -
she must tell Benedict
she mused-
a Tortoiseshell

fluttered past
the meadow grass
if only Benedict was here
she said

inside her head
missing his arm
looped through hers
his melodic voice

his hazel eyes
and quiff of hair
if only she mused
he was there.