Mary Cresswell: ‘Lockdown Pastoral’

Lockdown Pastoral

If you just turn your head
someone is there watching

Rats in the ceiling, heard but not seen
neighbours quarrelling, at it full time

Low-tide beach, all that water waiting
worn-out fanbelt caught on the wrong tooth

Not the first calm minute of waking
but the jolt as the swing hits its height

Night is frozen in ongoing shadow
yesterday’s sound is good for tomorrow

Clouds of unknowing reflect only glare
dogs speak for us when they bay at the moon

Listen hard and you’ll hear
the other shoe dropping.

Mary Cresswell