Writing by Harry Clough. Illustration by Josie Berry.
Two lovers land on a swan’s nesting place,
Oscillating dragons on paper wings
And we sprawled like senators on damp, speckled earth.
A reclining troop of murky frogs burp wetly and richly,
A Greek chorus by the Styx relishing the toad work we hid from
Under cow parsley’s shade and giggling reeds
We made our Sunday nest on the sunstroked jut.
No distant green to reach towards,
Only that underneath our bare feet.
And between our smiles.
But as a swan glided up to our bank and we
Hastened out of its glaring way,
A shattered duck egg appeared, nestled snugly
Beside a buttercup’s matching, innocent colours.
The hard yolk and virgin shell splayed as in carnage.