Michael Longley
We returned to the Byzantine path’s
Camomile-strewn marble pavement
And dusty oregano to look again,
Before the snails, for the bee orchid.
Pollineum like a brain, the brainy
Bumble-bee disguise. On our knees
Among wild garlic, almost at prayer,
We forgot about adder and lizard,
And nearly missed in a juniper
The blackcap’s jet black. We waited
And waited for this connoisseur’s
Restrained aria among the prickles.