Mise en Scene

When I think of you. Beloved, I see a smooth and stately garden With parterres of gold and crimson tulips And bursting lilac leaves.

There is a low-lipped basin in the midst. Where a statue of veined cream marble Perpetually pours water over her shoulder From a rounded urn.

When the wind blows. The water-stream blows before it And spatters into the basin with a light tinkling.

And your shawl — the colour of red violets — Flares out behind you in great curves Like the swirling draperies of a painted Madonna.