a piece of heaven
tucked away in the corner
of a thatched hamlet
quiet enough to hear
the sound of sheep grazing
in the blue dusk
flurries of swirling snow
caught in car headlights
a fox runs along the street
imagined hounds on its tail
field after field
dozens of dairy cows
all laying down
clouds pass over their heads
threatening to burst with rain
I feel reassured
spotting a red admiral
fluttering along
the unfamiliar
streets of Paris
five stories up
outside the hotel window
a hawk circles
above the noisy traffic
above fields of concrete
tonight foxes fight
over scraps of food
chasing each other
between pools of street lighting
in and out of the darkness
tepid sunshine
leaks through the kitchen window
where a wasp
does a sad little dance
on the day the clocks go back
the joyful sound
of children’s laughter rings out
all around the park
acorns amongst fallen leaves
keep the squirrels busy
tufts of fur
on the bedroom floor where cats
have been fighting
cabin fever already
and it’s not yet December
bright evening sunshine
pours into the backyard
warming our cat
who guards his back gate
only butterflies get in
fawn deer prance about
and chase each other
in an empty field
just yards away from
a high speed railway line
sunny riverbank
kids are diving and swimming
in the cool water
on the opposite bank
sheep lie in the shade watching