Darling Belle

papa would take me to the park to see the swans

by hansom cab trotting so high

holding his hand to see the swans

hissing louder than rustling dresses of gracious ladies bustling by

see swan ships come sailing in

white as the clouds on a windy day

James I suppose would be in school

James I suppose would be in school

I was I was learning to spell

laughing at loud smells

avoiding the rod of the codfaced master

was it your absence made me quiet at noon

playing british bulldogs on the gravel

was it your presence coloured my dream

I burrowed in cupboards like a mole all saturday

under old chairs and old ladies knees

I framed your half remembered face

with frail white embroideries

calling for you down the mousey garden

calling for you down the mousey garden

o did you meet him at the ball

eighteen years on

tall soldier now and you full grown

Belle did you meet him at the ball

o do you remember me

thin girl with cold hands

you in your scarlet and you knew my name

step to the veranda under the wisteria

in the mysterious november

dancing as if with death or fate

to the moon black ballroom

of the silk skinned lake

kissing me you lifted my skirt

under the willow trees

keep the home fires burning

though your heart is yearning

though the boys are far away

they dream of home

there's a silver lining

in the dark clouds shining

turn that lining inside out

till the boys come home

o did I see you march to the train

did I cry was my nose red

my two day bride can you feel me in your memory

I will be the redness in your iron fire

how could i write

my words would seem sad or gay

we regret to inform you

we regret to inform you

meet me by gaslight in the dark dawn

on waterloo bridge we will walk arm in arm

hearing the leaves fall with whisper into the foggy dew

when we are dead

when we are dead

now she sits in her brother's window's house

skin like a lizard aura like a daffodil

migrant guest from relative to inlaw

she stares into the embers and remembers