.
Seasonal
.
Sunlight jags across bare branches
casts long shadows over ridge and furrow
gives no favour aloof in winterbright sky
rabbits mourn the loss of grasses
russet brown of a red kite hunts above
chill wind cuts my coat
lazily going through not round
.
Pale primrose lies low
bold daffodils stand to attention
and the budding begins
sticky tree buds emerging from wood
reddish, shading to luminous green
all wait, as do I
with baited breath
for the right moment
the burst of Spring
.
Drowsy summer, warm and humid
brash coral flowerspikes
lean out of hedgerows
where bees amble and drone
in a bustling household I am idle
not gardening, not busy
sitting making plans to waste more time
.
Autumn leaves litter roads red and orange
the long slide into the cold begins again
advent madness beckons
like a siren calling us onto the rocks
of family festivities, hidden lonelinesses, retail greed and envy
soon rooftops will grow neon reindeer
all too soon it will be Christmas
.
Coward
.
She has parked behind me
putting her vehicle
and her body
in the way of traffic to protect me
and I let her
coward that I am
.
On the edge of a dangerous road
engine failed
lorries flash past only inches away
I shiver in February cold
dressed in office skirt and heels
look in my rear view mirror
.
Young woman
half my age
earning less than half my salary
public servant and protector
risking herself for me
and I let her
coward that I am
.
When the rescue truck finally arrives
the driver too scared to remove my car
she quietly tells him his legal duty
returns to her patrol car
I walk over and thank her
she smiles
tells me it’s her job
one she loves
.
As we leave
she blue lights away to another shout
smiling and waving farewell
.
Kim Whysall-Hammond is a Londoner, now living in a small country
town somewhere in Southern England. She has been published by Total
Eclipse, Fourth and Sycamore, Ink, Sweat and Tears, Three Drops from a
Cauldron, Amaryllis, Star*Line and Crannóg. An expert in obsolete
telecommunications arcana, Kim believes, against all evidence, that she
is a good dancer. You can find her at https://thecheesesellerswife.wordpress.com/
.
.
North of Oxford 