PANDEMIC SOLITUDE A quilt of quietness falls across the park birds silent at mid-day traffic subdued - whispers far away soft-soled shoes shuffle light through curling leaves Babes lie oblivious in their prams. Hounds pass - tongues withheld - obedient to

PANDEMIC SOLITUDE

A quilt of quietness falls across the park

birds silent at mid-day

traffic subdued - whispers far away

soft-soled shoes shuffle light through curling leaves

Babes lie oblivious in their prams.


Hounds pass - tongues withheld - obedient

to the censure of their leads.

Pigeons stalk with noiseless beaks

on ballet-feet .

A ball falls silent on the distant grass.

Air currents quietly glide beneath a vault of blue

rustling ageing leaves that hang above...

nothing can remain unmoved for long.

Surprising me - a Magpie at my feet

eyes me - hopeful still.

I do not move except my lips to thank him

for his quiet presence till - solemnly he turns away...

soundless and empty.