
Detail 5, John Lyons (oil on canvas)
In Bruton at fifty
We are what the sea has made
into and out of it—
and starflakes falling
on a Saturday night
along with long threads
of fine frozen fire
and a kiss and a cuddle
to our heart’s desire
and age seems so trivial
fifty years on
with all that’s gone well
with whatever’s gone wrong
fifty years and a day
and a day
who would have thought
it would work out that way
on Lusty Hill
where the dovecote stands
and love so disruptive
to all of our plans
here where the river
runs down to the sea
what is and what was
and what’s bound to be
John Lyons