The English Garden

Many years later Valentina still remembers the Canterbury Bells and Nasturtiums by the wall…

.

I work the land here, I rise each morning

I plant the seed and reap what I have sown.

I left my homeland, but kept my God-fear

Without my family when I set off alone.

. 

I’m long since married; I have three daughters,

I love them dearly and we are family

And my garden is full of roses

My English roses, I feed them tenderly.

. 

My husband loves me; we work together

We spend the evenings until the fire burns low.

But when the candle is pale and smoky

I think back to you, I never let you go.

 .

Our last embrace by the wall

You kept your faith, you would not lie

The broken bell signalled your fall

I never knew if you would live or die

.

And in the darkness we lay down in the heather

One kiss to last forever, before I went to sea.

My eldest daughter, she looks so like you.

But home is here now, what is and what will be.

 .

I made my life here; I rise each morning
I plant the seed and reap what I have sown
I left my homeland but kept my God-fear
Without my family when I set off alone

I made my life here; I rise each morning
I thank the Lord and reap what I have sown
And in my garden, my English garden
I tend my roses, and water them…alone.

.

.

© 2012 Duffy-Howard