A gentle hand, a hand made of air ...

We followed our path between leafless hazel - 

Pale sunlight fell upon chalk and flint - 

Dark trees marked far off hilltops -

We saw two stonechats - 

Then a kestrel - 

Rich mud filled a sunken lane - 

A chill river ran past still dreaming trees - 

We came at last to the lonely church - 

There were snowdrops beneath our feet - 

Stilled bells inside the tower - 

A sheaf of wheat hung from the pulpit - 

The angel appeared before the Virgin - 

A gentle hand, a hand made of air, touched me on the shoulder - 

12.29

Friday 11 January 2019

Church of St Mary the Virgin

Tarrant Crawford

Dorset