Taken by surprise in a summer storm
We run, soaked and cold
Ill dressed for such occasions
A man and girl, to hide

Under a monolithic conifer
(Species unspecified) where we sit
Shivering, like two human raisins
On this makeshift bed

You are young, I so much older
But in looking after you
Warming you, we find a closeness
We never thought we needed

Lying together steaming wet
it is easy to forget why
We are hiding here
In this tent of needles.

Whatever happened we let it
So for that summer we slept
like lions, on stones and thorns
Unhindered by tomorrow

Now, autumn gone and dull winter here
We tread carefully round each other
Drowned by familiarity so much
We cannot even sleep on thistledown