Inter-mammalian blessing amid the shadows of the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall

the sunlight springs off the riverwater
and transforms itself into
a shoal of golden bees
dancing amid the shade
of the notsofar riverbank
of the merrily idling Windrush

we lie under an oak of a thousand greens
and
with my front door key
I slowly, slowly prise at each
toothedfold of the beerbottle top
until it finally condescends to
welcome me in with a bottletop grin:
Badger Brewery Golden Champion Ale

I raise the bottle to the evening summer air
and propose a toast
to badgers everywhere
that they may be as happy as the sunshine
and have many many children