As the stars appeared

From hazy sunset cirrus

We quickly lost count

The burning sunset

And the orange firelight

This is all we need

Sticky mud oozing

Between my toes and upwards

A barefoot crossing

A fork in the road

Yet another window closed

Life is just choices

Even if it rains

These fires keep us warm and dry

What more can we need?

Warm rain keeps falling

Water level rising fast

Filling up the swales

Bare feet through wet grass

Bright eyes squint in white sunlight

Jumping summer creeks

Off the beaten track

Following subtle fox paths

Just a wild beast

Baggy monkey arms

Swinging between oak branches

Bare feet scrambling

Spiky nettle leaves

Haloed by the evening sun

Distant memories

Cargo jettisoned

Clear space is better than stuff

I’m liberated

So many trees felled

Clearings for little boxes

Goodbye my old friends

Climbing over gates 

And scrambling through ditches

Under a full moon 

Cow parsley blossoms

Cotton wool lambs tail catkins

The smells of springtime

Sitting side by side 

A mirror that doesn’t shine

A new place to hide 

Is it scarcity 

Which makes the sun so healing? 

Are we in darkness? 

Between dark grey clouds 

The magical sunny spells

Cast shadows and dreams 

The person you are

Is who you choose to become 

Who d’ya wanna be? 

But inside your mind

There’s a whole world to explore 

Adventures to find 

Under hollow skies

Over built up dirt and grime 

Backdrop to our lives 

Wails and sobs erupt

And on your quiet heart strings

Play songs of sadness 

From behind dark clouds 

Even in the wind and rain

Your sun still shines through 

Gnarled and creaking limbs 

Bend and bow in winter winds

The old bell still rings 

On my left a rock 

On my right a harder place 

Hateful compromise