The rain has finished its long confession and the clouds drift slowly apart
leaving the earth breathing deeply, beneath the returning light
this is the hour when the vetiver releases its’ gentle fragrance
slowly rising from hidden roots, earthy, green
touched with smoke and the sweetness of rain-soaked soil
and for some reason, it reminds me of us
our love was never perfect but it endured in unexpected places
for the deepest affections become roots holding together the landscape
long after the flowers have fallen
sometimes I catch the faintest scent carried upon the evening breeze
and you are beside me again
like the vetiver, the strongest love was never what grew above the surface
it was always what remained hidden, steadfast, beneath everything
©Ann Bagnall
Annie's Poetry 