we found her mouse

floating backstroke

in the pool skimmer,

carrion for the buzzard

that rigorously patrols

our sky like a drone,

the strangled repartee

of a baby cockerel from

the farm makes us smile

juvenile owls in the copse

seemingly answering its call,

down the lane the vines

look in fine shape in

spite of the heat,

perfect corduroy files

above a velvet undergrowth

a nod to lovers of the soil,

we drink the red wine

from this land, decent,

honest, respectable

shown in the weathered

face of the vigneron,

© Graham R Sherwood 08/25