from the south the wind
softens biscuits, hardens hearts
open doors, damp nights
the summer is near ending
Running early morning
- The sun is up.
- The runner is running.
- The cat is clawing open the plastic rubbish bag on the pavement.
- The runner claps and calls out.
- The cat darts into the road.
- The motorcyclist swerves to avoid the cat.
- The runner jumps onto the pavement to avoid the motorcyclist.
- The runner slips on the fishguts the cat had been rummaging through.
- The runner sits with a thump in a puddle of fishguts.
- The cat licks a paw and walks away.
- The cat does not look back.
Silkie
Silkie outgrew the pond.
Once again, under cover both of night and of the tarpaulin over the wheelbarrow, we bumped him down to the sloping sand.
Clouds opened the sky and a grey head appeared in the black mirror waves.
Silkie swam towards the moon, not looking back this time.
Rain ran down
Rain ran down the statue’s face
as it had since the casting, the carving,
the muddled unveiling,
the cheering and booing,
the eventual forgetting.
Rain ran down, uncaring.
now freed
now freed the turtle
swims beneath the lily pads
new friends arriving
La Cutura 11 September 2021
as the world turns
every year is shorter
than those which went before
as the world turns and
returns to tomorrow
I await you golden
breath held in slow heat
on the sea
on the sea
the rain is falling
sweet water softening the salt
one day soon
these showers will pass
Anthropometeo (1)
Whenever the heat reaches an unbelievable peak,
clouds and thunder roll.
The atmosphere is breezeless, breathless,
until souls have cooled and
sky clarity returns.
on the roof 2
icy roof shower
nakedness dodging
the neighbours’ sharp eyes
on the roof
home from the sea
skin sun-scorched
the icy shock of the shower
simonsalento 