first day of school

new pink-spotted school bag +
new black shoes and navy socks +
big sister's hand-me-down uniform =
one excited little sister

a single clear teardrop forms at the corner of her right eye
I hug her, hoping that somehow it will help

blue-tailed kingfisher perched on a black power line
grey skies above, green fields below

in the morning sun

an eerie mist rises from the wooden fence,
waterlogged after yesterday's rain

her leg, heavy with sleep, hangs down the side of the bed
I lift it gently back under the duvet and lean in to kiss her soft cheek

winter morning

the cold creeps into my bones and seems to freeze me from the inside out
it will be 10am before I thaw

perfect orange sphere fits neatly in the palm of my hand
glossy dimpled rind encases all that sweet citrus nectar

.