Rose Rent

Published by Turret Books 1987
24 pages – perfect bound with slip sleeve
Frontispiece by Norman Stevens
 
Collector’s special leather bound limited edition
(price available on request)
 
July Ambush
 
No doubt one swallow
holds the trick of summer
in his tail.
 
He swings with confidence
through clouds grey and thick
as wet days at sea.
 
Cow parsley is doing best;
full saucers of cream
spread over dim roods.
 
I will pick a yellow rose
for the centre of our table.
Imagine it is the sun.
 
Rose rent is an ancient nominal rental agreement whereby a single rose is tendered as rent on Midsummer’s Day.