inspired by a poem by elizabeth jennings called 'a song for a departure', which can be found in her 2000 compilation 'collected poems'.this poem is as follows:

Could you indeed come Lightly
Leaving no mark at all
Even of footsteps, briefly
Visit not change the air
Of this or the other room,
Have quick words with us yet be
Calm and unhurried here?So that we should not need -
When you depart lightly
Even as swift as coming
Letting no shadow fall -
Changes, surrenders, fear,
Speeches grave to the last,
But feel no loss at all?Lightest things in the mind
Go deep at last and can never
Be planned or weighed or lightly
Considered or set apart.
Then come like a great procession,
Touch hours with drums and flutes:
Fill all the rooms of our houses
And haunt them when you part.

Elizabeth Joan Jennings (1926-2001) was born in Boston in July 18, 1926. Her father was a respected Chief Medical Officer who moved the family to Oxford when she was six years old. She later discovered poetry while attending the Oxford high school.

After attending St Anne's College, Oxford, jennings became a librarian at Oxford city library. Having more time to focus on her writing she published her first collection of poetry (1953) which drew the attention of Robert Conquest. Mr. Conquest would later publish her work with the likes of famous authors Kingsley Amis, Philip Larkin (see i listen to money singing, it's like looking down ...), Thom Gunn and others in his 1956 'New Lines Anthology', which would later become known as 'The Movement'. During this time she published three books of poetry and a book for children entitled 'Let's Have Some Poetry!' (1960).

In the early 1960s, Jennings suffered a breakdown and was confined to a hospital. The poems she wrote after her release are collected in 'Recoveries' (1964) and 'The Mind Has Mountains' (1966).

Throughout the 1960's, jennings was one of the most popular poets in England, noted for her clarity of style and simplicity of literary approach. her works relate intensely personal matters in a plainspoken, traditional, and objective style and her verse frequently reflects her devout Roman Catholicism and her love of Italy. She however has always made it clear that, whilst her life contributes to the themes contained within her work, she does not write explicitly autobiographical poetry.jennings published over twenty works of poetry.