Gwaun* valley (Pembrokeshire) in May

Gwaun* valley quiet, lush, green,
munching sheep by a glittering stream,
bird song and baas
(but very few cars),
narrowing down til the grass has gone,
just fresh-leaved woods
with swathes of ransoms** beside the track
and the tumbling water,
then up through the trees to the road
– steep laneside verge
of grasses and flowers’
May growth surge
– red gleams in its jungle
– can’t stop to untangle
to check what they are
– pimpernel, cranesbill? …
let’s race to the car.

*Gwa-een **wild garlic white star clusters