Summer Loss

Sunshine smelled of coconut,
blackcaps sang like larks.
You took my hand and lead me
across trampolining grass
through a prickly gorse bush tunnel
onto a speedwell lawn.
The place became our hideaway
for afternoons of love
the whole of that hot summer
that stretched into eternity.

Last time I walked that way alone
black charred remains
were all I saw
of gorse.