By the river : reflections on memory

By the river we walked

Which led to Grantchester orchard

Not a wall in sight

Just an open field with apple trees

Cow parsley waist high

Waving gently in the breeze

And teak deck chairs and tables

Upon which is placed a metal tea pot

That spills

Earl Grey

Into our saucers

Here I am in paradise

Remembering how it is to dream

And enter the flow of nature

Awash with grace

Bursting into blossom

All around us

Here we are

In present time

No one to be

No where to go

But emptiness is here too

With the memory

I am far from home

And the love you held for me

Now memory calls me back

To that time

When life was full of new possibility

But also full of danger and loss

And I realise

On reflection

That nothing is ever perfect

Certain separations and pain

We must carry with grace

They leave their scars upon our heart

Etched crookedly into memory

Appearing anew

When least expected

Or bidden to

And we must encompass them

With open minds

As we allow ourselves to move

Back again from memory

Inhabiting fully

Both present time

And eternity