Different Worlds

suddenly a commotion a score of gulls screaming wings flapping, gliding, wheeling then within half a minute away into the sky behind the houses what and why I asked myself but found no answer, as usual a pattern of small copses gaunt, unloved trees, perilously leaning against each other roots drowning in pools of muddy water picture of neglect and decay and then in their midst a carpet of bluebells field of sheep field of horses field of crows field of cows field of rabbits field of wood-pigeons field of barren apple-trees field of bare earth field of undrained water field of hope field of neglect fields of Britain