Carefree

By Anna Osmaston

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The smells of Spring are in the air;
The time when beasts come from their lair.
I must go out too – anywhere -
the March wind racing through my hair.
 
I’ll climb the hill ‘till I reach the sky,
Then on the springing turf I’ll lie
And listen to the peewits cry
In joyous freedom wheeling by.
 
The wind-tossed cloudlets hurry past
Each trying to outrun the last,
At me reproachful glances cast
As through this hustle, I stand fast.
 
Yes, I must up and hurry too –
Down to the woods where pigeons coo
Where birds and beasts their chosen woo
Life has begun! There’s lots to do.
 
Down to the stream where the old punt lies,
Hide ‘neath the willows, see fishes rise,
The flash of colour where the kingfisher flies,
And water rat peeping with beady eyes.
 
When I’ve left the punt in the reeds, which way?
I know – to the meadow where little lambs play,
And I’ll prance and frisk as well as they,
then home at the end of a perfect day.

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Anna Osmaston (1922–2021) was a WWII veteran and a beloved wife, mother and grandmother.

'Carefree' was written at Anna's home (Pensbury House, Shaftesbury, Dorset) in November 1941 when she had a few days’ leave from the Army.