Between winding flow and waving blade

the muddy track along the riverside

peters out to become dense thicket

of nettles and thistles.

With tingling legs and thoughts of clothing

more suitable than shorts

I wave and cry hello to purple haired ladies

gliding past in the MV Conway Castle.

Pleasant Pheasant runs ahead,

turning and looking at me.

Seeing me onto the right path

and sparing me the wrath of the farmer.

He turns away and wags his wings goodbye.

A lone rabbit hops past. His white

tail flashing its signal of good health.

The small, brown body slips

down a small, brown hole.

Yards later, from that other world

his white teeth flash their

message of good will.

Glorious drakes with serene, green sheen,

mutter to their dowdy consorts.

They discuss whether I am a likely

prospect to throw them some food.

Deciding that I walk too fast

for that they wander off.

Hot and tired, scratched and stung,

I suck a blistered toe and relax.

Calm in the memory of beauty

and new friends.