4 JULY 1952, Page 10

Love in the Afternoon

Brave with summer the garden ventured Right inside the room ; The walls were leafed and birdsong tingled Through the sun-stained gloom.

Kisses like butterflies flickered within The single mouth of love And dizzy with miracle Adam and Eve Were dazzled from above As the marvellous ceiling grew bright as the sky ; Then suddenly darkness filled The room like an inky tidal wave And every sound was stilled.

Slowly a commonplace light returned And the walls were plain as clay ; And again the singing birds were heard,