A Child of Summer
Composed at the end of summer 1997

A Child of Summer I have known, she brought to me a song.
Upon the hills, among the stones, she raised a mighty throng.
She skipped and danced and follied there, oh such a sight to see.
She reached to hearts so sad and bare, and filled them with such glee.
And all the summer she did play, upon her drum a tune.
And how she wished, she’d always stay, beneath Orvilla’s moon.
Each day we’d wander oér the sand, my love, my child, and me.
Such life I felt, her tiny hand, could set my spirit free.
Her laughter echoed with the screams of joy, whilst there she’d dance.
And when she spoke of Faery dreams, I was allowed a glance.
Her sillhouette, upon that shore, the moon upon the sea,
Her childhood world, with open door, still lingers here with me.
This empty space she left behind, as with a saddened heart,
And many questions in her mind, of why we two must part.
Oh how I’d lift my sword aloft, and strike a mighty blow,
If one should harm a hair, so soft, let all who see her know.
But battles I have fought too long, and pain inside I’ve borne,
To try to hold my child’s sweet song, which from my breast was torn.
So she must there, as I must here, abide for just a while,
But in my heart I know, so clear, I hold her loving smile.
And often on this shore I’ll find, whilst walking by the sea,
Her tiny hand will join with mine, and she will be with me.
The stone she found, upon the beach, now rests upon my sill,
And though she’s so far from my reach, her spirit lingers still.
And e’er she has the right to choose the city or the sea,
Then, Goddess, may her chains be loosed, that she may join with me.
For never did a gentler heart, bring forth a poets song,
And if you choose we live apart, let that time not be long.
And watch her in her cot at night, within her sweetest dreams,
And see, as I do in your light, if all is as it seems.
My child, so young, in mortal years, holds truth within her heart,
and prays for days, with no more tears, when we may never part.
My love and I will hold her close, and in our love she’ll grow.
But let this be the life she chose, and all the world to know.
Till then, with pencil and keen eye, let beauteous words pour forth,
That they may take their wings and fly, unto the frozen north.
Let ice caps melt, let rivers flow, so swift, unto the sea.
And in your mercy, let me know, my child is safe, with me.

Maélwys /|\

Lines written at the end of Summer 1997, a summer of joy and love when the Author’s adopted daughter Stephanie Jade was allowed to spend eight weeks with her father at his cottage with his third wife in rural Cornwall. The child expressed great distress at the end of summer and requested of her father that she be allowed to live with him. This being beyond the author’s control, the poem was written that should it be the will of the child and the Goddess, she be allowed to return to him soon.