neighbours

My noisy neighbours are in full song.
Their joyous euphony, traversing hedge and shrub,
moving through my garden on a gentle breeze,
takes the sting of summer heat on sweeping wings
and brings me pleasure, peace and pause.

I discard my book and I am still:
cool beneath the shade of wood and vine,
floating in the heavy scent of blossom, bloom and bud,
all around me unseen lives are chattering
and calling out their signatures in unison.

And if not drowned in scent, then
I would happily be deafened
by my neighbours’ songs of unknown meaning.

Their gift of chirping happiness is priceless:
worth an endless round of philosophical gymnastics
on a silent printed page.