Homework done
I'd don hat, coat and scarf
and slip from the buzzing house
to climb the gravel path
to the silent peace of trees.

The moon sailed low
above the South Downs
chalk and cheese, after tea
blotched and freckled
like me.

Jupiter, Saturn, Mizar and Alcor
Orion's belt and sword
ancient hercules cluster
swam glorius over
roads and houses, acres of concrete.

And for a brief moment
in the cold darkness of my youth
I could stand unseen
to scan the darkling vastness
and slip away between the stars.