Dark across the lawn
gangling shadows stretch
between the honey promises
of clover

Under the hedge
a cross-hatched fret of grey
hems brightening green

Tucked in ivy dark
humbug snails hide
from the piercing sun

On the verandah
a single wasp investigates
a cricket corpse

Upwards to the summer sky
two iridescent flies
spiral round a barley-sugar twist
of vibrant air.