Nothing Much In Mind Poem by John Rickell

I rose with nothing much in mind
Made no purchase for the day
Dressed in green, as yesterday
And slipped into the wood
Merged with birds and mosses
Noonday sun shining through the storm,
Chill and thrilling.
The March- wood floor winter- bracken- brown
Crisp- crackled 'neath Jack's feet
No signs of green, yet Easter-day yes Easter-day
So early..............
Pheasants in alarm flew low stirred by Jack,
Who had no care for sport leaping high and long
Stretching legs long rested
As I rose with nothing much in mind.
Still with nothing much in mind
And sometime later in the lazy day
I found a railway station; jostled with the crowd
Its cheerful children, choking smoke, whistle
Wooden carriage, churn, leather case and signal box
Station master's hat and porter's barrow
Tea and coffee cake.
A little after four the train midst hiss and billow
Pulled away excited children many more than sixty
And stillness fell upon the brick- paved platform.
So on we went, with nothing much in mind
Easter-day half gone, let the stormy wind dictate......
West we went, took the easy way,
The English road had nothing much in mind
Its purpose no more than mine each hamlet much the same
As for me, it was all the same
At six, with less in mind I found a wood
Walked with Jack who chased between the trees
Left me some time, with very much in mind
Here were rabbits, pheasants, hunting smells and fun.
He did not know my mood perhaps thought me quiet.
Agnostic as he is took no thought of Easter,
Twenty third is all the same to him,
March? What's that? Two meals a day as always.