Musty mornings, clammy clothes
Milky tea, the scent of toast
Salty butter and cinnamon oats
Rubber boots and raincoats
Rain falls onto the freshly cut lawn
Nightshades fade with break of dawn
Morning birds sing their melodies
From the dripping apple trees
The clouds soon clear the sky for sun
Children are playing, having fun
Catch me if you can they cry
With grass-stained knees, their spirits high
Once the sunburst has begun
The forest steams in the midday sun
The smell of pine is rivaled by
The scent of grandma’s apple pie
At nightfall the heat dissolves to dew
The hills are tinged in midnight blue
The moon and stars shyly appear
As well as fox and owl and deer
The log fire’s burning from evening `til night
It’s smokey odor and shimmering light
Radiate safety and comfort and peace
The fragrance puts my mind at ease
Games are played and stories told
It’s bedtime now for young and old
A smile, a hug, a kiss good night
Still is the English countryside
Natalie Broadhead is an architect and musician in her fifties who mainly writes song lyrics. Her subjects are mostly about family, relationships, and how to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life. She is a keen reader of English and American literature. Natalie has British roots but currently lives in Switzerland.