Geometrics

"At the violet hour"

Autumn

Autumn

Leaves blaze red, orange, yellow,

Unextinguished by

The cool, reflecting ripples.

Early morning

Early morning

Pastel-bright salmon clouds drift wispily

Across a pale translucent turquoise sky

Still slightly weighted by grey clouds.

Embroidered cushion cover

Bill

BILL

We took you in, Bill, with your one eye,

To keep you safe from predators,

A companion for Ben with his damaged wing

In his solitary aviary.

And after some bullying he accepted you,

Enjoyed your company.

But soon you fell ill and quickly died

Despite the injections and oxygen tent.

And we miss your gentle presence, your sweet ways.

May you rest in peace, dear pigeon,

In your quiet corner of our garden.

Fifi

FIFI

Little Fifi, tiny hedgehog,

Found trapped with your brother

In a wire mesh, your mother dead,

You came to us with a third hedgeling:

Fifi, Riri, Loulou.

Such tiny helpless miniatures.

We fell in love with you,

Watching you suck avidly

At the syringes of kitten milk,

Your eyes not open yet.

But then, Fifi, little girl,

You fell ill and couldn’t be saved.

You have your place

In our garden cemetery

And you are missed, our little one,

As we watch your brothers

Thrive, grow teeth, explore

And learn hedgehog ways

Instinctively, without you.