Breakfast in Chartres

In Chartres she rose early
           threw on some clothes
and walked to the baker’s
           at the end of the street
bought a baguette
           and croissants
heard the tiny birds
           singing in the bushes
as she returned
           heard the cathedral bells
toll eight o’clock
           sat in the front garden
while I boiled the eggs
           and laughed at me
when I brought them out to her
           in my boots
and shorts and said
           it was the best bread
she had ever had and
           the freshest croissants
so pleased with herself
           for having broken
the spell of early hour 
          inertia

John Lyons