Edward Thomas?s Watch

Stopped at 7.36 a.m.
Easter Monday 9th April 1917.
And suddenly coming into focus is
England: the softly dipping meadows,
That moment when the noonday heat
Defrauds the lilies of their dew,
Old grey hop poles,
The serenity of poppies,
A lane of larches that he loved,
All suddenly stopped in time.

David Broadbridge