Bohemia Village Voice

[From ‘Bohemian Bagatelle‘, published 1979 by the Bohemians]

THE LILY LEAVES

The moor-hen with

Her dainty tread

Goes walking on the lily-leaves,

Which shining green

Or russet red

Seems like a land which fancy weaves.

The water shades to inky-blue

With silver bubbles floating through.

A little kingdom

For the fish,

Who idly near the surface rest

And glimpse our world

From underneath

The lily leaves and moor-hen’s breast.

Then rise to catch a swimming fly

Or breathe the bubbles floating by.

Helen Holmes