Earle Birney

From The Hazel Bough
.
I met a lady
on a lazy street
hazel eyes
and little plush feet

her legs swam by
like lovely trout
eyes were trees
where boys leant out

hands in the dark and
a river side
round breasts rising
with the finger's tide

she was plump as a finch
and live as a salmon
gay as silk and
proud as a Brahmin

we winked when we met
and laughed when we parted
never took time
to be brokenhearted

but no man sees
where the trout lie now
or what leans out
from the hazel bough

Military Hospital, Toronto 1945/Vancouver 1947