A little bit of England
Hidden away, to the side of the road,
By the side of the canal,
Next to the river,
There is a little area of swampy land, with ponds,
Trees, reeds and bushes.
Nobody wanted it.
It could not be farmed.
It could not be built on.
It was a tiny bit of England
Left untouched.
Home to frogs and toads, to fish, birds and voles.
Where butterflies and bees play,
Snakes slither and fish dart
As herons fish and ducks dabble.
It is a tiny haven,
A piece of England
Left intact from days gone by.
Once it was all like this
Now this smidgen has to do,
To provide us with a glimpse
Of what once was everywhere.
Opher – 23.4.2020