The Land Between

The seasons seem halted.
The weather's fine and still.
Summer's flowers–
Vetch, toadflax campion–
Vie with autumn haws' red.
The greens deep before the coming gold.

The fields are ploughed
Into football jersey stripes.
The swallows have flown
And brown edges the leaves,
But the warmth inspired the verges
To lush new growth.

Puffs of rain drift across the fields
And rise like smoke in the vales.
Horses and sheep continue to crop
As a heavy mist descends,
Clothing the land in mystery
And crystal drops on dry stalks.

A gleam of ruddy gold
Signals the sun.
You pick up a magpie feather
And see it all.