SILK FLOWERS (for Andrea)

laugh disturbs the air.

The children leave their play bell

deep and balmy tink-

ling sleep diverts her

with his herd’s low scattered cot,

droning trump, gaudy

nonsense of the day

woebegone yet vacant robes,

with placid mien ear

streaming garters tree

lank rifted bed, cheek: curling

smoke, grey, Gambolling

old man’s wishful eye

in antic disproportion

leans, with slipshod dust

the younger race rain,

sadden supper as they smile,

fragments of their feast,

The silken-clad, who

china buttons, ruby neck-

lace cottage-door pack

shadows lengthen shrill-

voiced home-returning kine, Bawl

yet chides the bursting