The clouds hung heavily over the hills as I walked across the drenched fields towards you I could see you standing under the pink blossom trees with your collar upturned against the feral winds We were making our way towards the white city But the weather had detained us You told me that you were […]

In 1971 some scenes of a movie about Mary Queen of Scots were shot under the cliffs not far from my home During the filming an amber ring was lost when it was cast into a rock pool and swallowed up by the tide I recently found this ring and gave it to my lovely […]

We were spending the last night in our cottage As it was due to be repossessed I looked out of the window from our love bed And could see the clumsy movements Of the malignant bailiffs As they tried to hide amongst the tired autumn trees I looked at your fragile naked breasts Deep in […]

I always had the feeling that Frau Parker did not like me Perhaps she was frightened of my intellect which I tried to keep concealed But my cat flap had betrayed me in its simplicity I had written a paper detailing its construction and discussed the philosophy of my invention The cat I explained was […]

n my dream you and I were at the railway station in Southall We were due to catch a train to Paddington And then you disappeared leaving only a carrier bag of clothes for me to wear As I looked for you I was approached by two tourists who were great fans of John Lennon […]

On the forty seventh day of March my friends from Tuscany invited me to stay at their farm Naturally I refused and caught the next train to Lisbon To fund my trip I robbed a couple of pawnbrokers in the southwest of the city I apologised to the old men and left copies of my […]

All the doors in my rabbit house Would be left open Before I retired each night I would open all the doors With the exception of the mighty door   Today was my birthday So I dressed for the occasion I wore my most sensual dress Which was cut at the front And revealed my […]

Never draw your snow drapes So that they may obscure The white light on summer days          

Always wear green Katherine Bach And keep the cut as simple as the sea Some may call it a vanity and nothing else But I know that what pleases my eye Is of the upmost importance to you In these long days of shallow decay

Ellen Baxter was brought up on a fruit farm in Kent In early July each year she teamed up with the seasonal workers To pick strawberries fresh for the local markets and shops She now lives in France with her husband and two sons And is has written a book about the forgotten fruit farms […]