Sunday morning. <br />Hazy sunshine, <br />Cool Breeze, <br />Poppies dancing <br />In the hedgerows. <br /> <br />Up the hill, <br />Flanked by nettles <br />Now growing taller than me. <br />Dwarfed by the lofty trees <br />All wearing their summer splendour. <br />I spy a foxglove flowering. <br />At the top, the tall ancient oak, <br />Which in summer offers <br />Cool shade from the hot sun. <br /> <br />Through the pine thicket. <br />On stormy days you can <br />Hear the rush of the wind <br />Through the canopy, <br />Their trunks creaking <br />As they bend and sway. <br />But today they are still, <br />Dappled with sunlight <br />As the morning mist clears. <br /> <br />Past the field where <br />Two chestnut horses <br />Graze with the rabbits, <br />Until we reach the stile. <br />I pause to watch <br />A squirrel on the fence, <br />He eyes me warily, <br />But doesn’t move. <br /> <br />Through the stile <br />Into Oak Wood. <br />No oaks here, mainly pines, <br />But too far for most folk, <br />So beautiful and still. <br />Just the sounds of nature. <br /> <br />I walk the same mile <br />Along the bridle paths <br />That we used to, <br />All those years ago. <br />Memories of him and me <br />When we were both full of life, <br />Always ready to embrace the day. <br /> <br />Today my old friend <br />Is not running by my side, <br />Today I carry him <br />In a little green box <br />Decorated with a posy <br />Of artificial white flowers. <br /> <br />Today I will leave him here, <br />Where we spent <br />Many happy hours <br />In each other’s company. <br />Today will be <br />Our last walk together.<br /><br />Susan Ash<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-last-walk/
