Summer with monika

they say the sun shone now and again
but it was generally cloudy
with far too much rain

they say babies were born
married couples made love
(often gently)
and people died
(sometimes violently)

they say it was an average
                             ordinary
                             moderate
                             run of the mill
                             commonorgarden
                             summer
...but it wasn't



for i locked a yellowdoor
and i threw away the key
and i spent summer with monika
and monika spent summer with me

unlike everybody else
we made friends with the weather...
mostdays the sun called
                      and sprawled
allover the place
or the wind blew in
as breezily as ever
and ran its fingers through our hair



but usually
it was the moon that kept us company

somedays we thought about the seaside
and built sandcastle on the blankets
and paddled in the pillows
or swam in the sink
and played with the shoals of dishes

otherdays we went for long walks
around the table
and picnicked on the banks
of the settee
or just sunbathed lazily
in front of the fire
until the shilling set on the horizon



we danced a lot that summer...
bosanovaed by the bookcase
or maddisoned instead
hulligullied by the oven
or twisted round the bed



at first we kept birds
in a transistor box
to sing for us
but sadly they died
we being too emraced in eachother
to feed them

but it didn't really matter
because we made lovesongs with our bodies
i became the words
and she put me to music



they say it was just
                        like
                        anyother
                        summer

                        ...but it wasn't



for we had love and eachother
and the moon for company
when i spent summer with monika

and
    monika
           spent summer
                 withme

Roger McGough

Love and blessings Tudor and Beth xx