The Shepherdess (Villanelle)

A shepherdess with a lamb to her breast Against a dry stone wall on a windy hill She cradles it with love so truly blessed Over steep Welsh hills they roam best Hardy hill sheep bred to wander at will A shepherdess with a lamb to her breast Long fleeces waving in springs unrest Bleating lambs at teats taking their fill She cradles it with love so truly blessed A brooding landscape the ultimate test The valley below a patchwork sits still A shepherdess with a lamb to her breast Her love is her flock she tenders with zest Caring for her lambs with love and skill She cradles it with love so truly blessed A shepherdess her lambs so caressed Her life with her sheep is always a thrill A shepherdess with a lamb to her breast She cradles it with love so truly blessed