Classic Poem

We sat on the top of the cliff
Overlooking the open sea
Our backs turned to the little town
Each of us had a basket of strawberries
We had just bought them from a dark woman
With quick eyes — berry-finding eyes
They're fresh picked said she from our own garden
The tips of her fingers were stained a bright red!
Heavens what strawberries
Each one was the finest
The perfect berry — the strawberry Absolute
The fruit of our childhood!
The very air came fanning
On strawberry wings
And down below, in the pools
Little children were bathing
With strawberry faces.
Over the blue swinging water
A three masted sailing ship
With nine ten eleven sails
Wonderfully beautifully!
She came riding
As though every sail were taking its fill
Of the sun and the light.
And Oh! how I'd love to be on board said Anne.
The captain was below, but the crew lay about
Idle and handsome —
Have some strawberries we said
Slipping and sliding on the polished decks
And shaking the baskets.