Ronald McNair-Scott
Induction to an Eclogue
Slouching beneath the elms in Kensington
With slack stride, crunchéd brow, and negligent
Sometimes, and sometimes petulant upswing
And roundabout twirl of silver-headed cane,
Jean-Pierre stumbled on Christophe sitting
Hunched on a branch-canopied bench alone
Watching the antics of a dove-grey squirrel.
Longtime close companions, then divided
What time one trumpeted and drummed, with hoarse
Voice, fierce commands, and military manner,
And one lounged indolent at Oxon: both now
Were peculiarly rejoiced, and much
Huge handshaking and contending duet
Of pleasurable utterance and surprise
Was theirs. They surged together over the grass,
And soon settling contentedly in seats
Found underneath a just green chesnut tree,
They 'gan to talk of many things, not least
Of Délice, Jean-Pierre's delight, longtime
Wooed and unwon: and of whom Christophe met
On a never-to-be-forgotten night
Deliriously dancing. So earnest they,
Each heeded not the other, each essayed
With eager interruption to convince
His careless friend how notable is love.
Page(s) 44
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