She came upon us from the North
Dragging her gloomy shawl
Over the sheared hills and ploughed land
Turning blends of gold to black and white
Breaking limbs from oak and ash
Flooded the roots
Inundated roads
Coughing and spitting
She dragged her filthy sheets into town
Stuffed her discarded litter into the drains
Threw hailstones that scratched our skin
Turned the fair to ruddy-faced
We flinched at each attack
Our umbrellas reduced to sodden flags
Useless emblems of human pride
We staggered home through her spiteful wind
As she blew out the last summer lights
Then spread her dark wings and settled in
Gloomy angel of long winter nights
~
CLP 26/09/2020
