Young Love

• Charlotte Lewis, Grade 8
• Poetry
• 2008

The dappled sunlight fell across the water,
it was punting season in Oxford again,
two young attentive lovers travelled down the river, oblivious to their surroundings
the young student gazed at his girl
she was as beautiful as a white rose, reflecting her innocence.

The young boy, with one swift stroke of the pole
pushed the punt under the drooping branches of the willow,
they glided for a second then hit the riverbank,
the lad jumped out, getting his boat shoes soaked,
his angel gave a sweet laugh, today was her birthday,
he pulled the punt over to the riverside and tied it to a willow.

When he was sure the punt was secure
he lifted the damsel out of the boat and onto the bank,
she gazed at him with lovesick eyes,
the college bells chimed bringing the couple back to earth as they ate their picnic lunch.

When lunch was done she returned the basket to its place on the boat,
they then returned to their romantic journey,
they passed bridges that arched like the neck of a swan,
their journey was coming to an end
so he planted his birthday present on her lips.