Tannakin (Scene 13) Poem by John Fenton Mcleish

scene 13
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mid summer day dream
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Days, weeks, months pass, but edward doesn't return.Anne sends him poems and sonnets(which was common for lovers to do in elizabethan times) , but all are returned unopened.She spends her days studying or tending to the children.She is a good mother.She resigns herself to her predicament without complaint.
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Today the family are having a picnic.Anne sits under the shade of a tree.She holds her baby in her arms.The children are playing croquet.Henry has run away with the ball.The children call to their mother, 'mother, henrys taken the ball again, he waon't give it back'.Anne, 'henry, you must give the ball back'.Henry laughs and runs away.The other children chase him.They catch him, tickle him, take the ball and start playing again.
A servant arrives with a parcel and hands it to anne.It's from geoffrey fenton.A letter reassuring her thats edwards in good health and they will be returning soon(a lie) .Anne puts the letter down and browses through the books.Renaissance classics in italian and french, her favourites.She lets the books rest on her lap and looks at the flowers.A butterfly flutters from one flower to the next.She starts to daydream of edward, forgetting the children momentarily.
'mother! he's done it again.tell him to stop'.One of the children shout.She awakens from her dream, puts the books down and rises from her chair.
'henry, give me the ball', henry laughs and runs away again.Anne and the rest of the children chase him round the garden.
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// this poem may contain copying errors