May I..?

I watch you through the window tilt the heavy basket against your hip balance it as you go to put the washing out. I(in mid brush stroke) leave the half painted wall to help you. It shouts after me in bright blue. My footsteps silent in the grass you lost in you singing (softly to) yourself an Irish air I taught you and that you sing all the time. You reach the line where clouds seem to hang as if drying. You bow to the horizon your bum a glorious orange sari sun burning in my mind as you come back up with my white shirt kiss it place its arm around your waist the other casually caressing your shoulder eyes closed you dance in some ecstasy of memory with this imaginary me I now as real as can be & near (oh my dear) tap you on the shoulder ask my shirt “May I...? ” & cut in whisking you away around this green leafy ballroom. The shirt left staring angrily on a rose bush like a wild flower as we waltz around this evening in the summer of our garden to the music of us laughing laughing.