For Elaine

Sitting at lunch with you in old Xi’An
  It struck me that I’d never thought I’d see
  This girl again and maybe also she
Had felt the same about this English man

The friendship we have formed and that began
  So far from where she wants to be
  Is one that transcends any boundary
And likely’ll last for our allotted span

Especially for you I write an ode
  Long in gestation was this verse of mine
  As many starts and stops have marked each line
It’s brought relief for my mind’s overload

No-one can know the way I feel for you
Except by things you’ve said, I think you do.


Trans-Siberian railway
09 November 2006