Now the days are shortening, it’s harder to be cheerful
the darkness closes round us like a cloak; and
trying to keep up appearances we joke a lot.
A second lockdown dominates the news, more people
test positive, and deaths are on the rise; still
resilient we make the best of every day.
Sunshine, that boosted our first incarceration with
spring warmth, has gone on holiday, yet
autumn’s fire fills the evening skies.
Standing in a field near home, we watch the sun fall
behind the tinted banks of cloud, light
streaming over the grass blinding us.
Suddenly, we are giants etched upon a green stage
reaching out to touch the bending trees, lit
from behind our shadows lengthening.
This fragile pleasure, watching our increasing size
when inside feeling insignificant, takes
away our viral gloom with wonder.
November 2020