Silence except the doves cooing far away,

Hot day, sun gleams in points of light
On leaves of coppery shrub, burns through
Clouds of exhaust fumes over the city,
No air, my throat is dry and sore.
Summer was not once this haze of poisons.
And dying Japanese maples and yet how beautiful
Sun shining through the leaves of the sycamore
And touching the holly leaves with a glow like Christmas decorations.
Silence except the doves cooing far away,
Occasional conversation from the hedge sparrows.
Just to lie in a field of poppies would be happiness.
To climb the green hill and gaze down a dale,
Or to follow sheep by drystone walls edge
To river with stepping stones in brown water.
Oh, world! Oh world of mine,
Given to me by my eyes opening
Beauty, silence, peace.
Green garlands shall decorate my heart.
And poppies dance across my dreams.
And forgive us our exhaust fumes,
And take away the smog from our hearts,
And let us be.