as a boy on the canford heath
i broke hearts and teeth
i climbed the pines and silver birch
the heath was my church
the Manning's was my sweet domain
roses climbing
with daisy chains
acorns and fir cones opened wide
grassy banks and water springs to ride
heather dew and furze bush branch
chimney stack and crickets dance
hares a leaping on the moor
cattle grazing
goldfinch robin and bumble bees
weeping willow and tall oak trees
what a boyhood life for me
just across from alderney