MAGPIE by Foutoux

MAGPIE.

The Monastery, beech saplings planted
Three deep, two rows to my left
Three to my right.  A shade hardly
20 years old.

The Magpie lands in front of me like
A bi-plane.  Is it the same one
Who at Mass lands beyond
the wooden Christ beyond
the tinted windows?

I walk behind the chapel this time
to dead-head a thousand roses
in one hour.
Holding my seccateurs the roses
moult petals but not at my
wedding.

From time to time I lift my head
and see William the Conquerer's
ruined castle - Arque La Bataille.
What is an Englishwoman doing
considering the ruins
 from here the size of his thumb?
Coronation, domination and
atrocities, nothing remains but me
And the thumb sized castle
and my pleasant musings on
this sunny day.

23 July 2013