Covid Walk

thermometer reads zero, a chilly breeze blows
  apple cores thrown, the blackbirds feed
  my multi-layered partner dons her wooly hat
  impatiently, she waits for me
  securing covid masks amidst my overcoat
  house keys retrieved, ...... so nearly there
  is the back door locked? check again, a second time
  what about the fire? have a look
  cosy flames dance and flicker safe behind the guard
  exasperated sighs are heard

  front door opens, grounded dream-machine still dreaming
  electric line from window draped
  charge my weary brain, way to go, save the planet
  plug-in thoughts for our next road trip
  kick back some gravel over the driveway riser
  we did this when covid clapping
  dark-haired Peggy, her blinds are down, we wonder why
  no need to raise alarm, just yet
  did we lock that door? looks exchanged, surely we did
  which route to take? follow the sun

  round the corner, through the alley, any road up
  uneven footpath, service scars
  no sign of our chatty lady, her man's unwell
  house of gnomes, where's the yappy dog?
  where's the guy with silly shorts and sillier quips?
  main road's quiet, saunter across
  seagulls and crows beside the bottle vomit bank
  groups of walkers, black bags in hand
  ball-scoops and assorted hounds, gym people stretching
  man in front, pull that long lead in!

  tennis for the young, the old and the very cold
  trees line where the ground is leaking
  man staring skywards intently, don't disturb him
  footfall behind, bunch of runners
  heavy breathing, vapour trail hangs, glad they're gone
  noisy terns, they scrap for breadcrumbs
  whilst ducks and geese mutter 'bout intelligence
  one nudges a branch through water
  jumps up, spins it, exposes lichen for the drake
  black waterbirds loiter close by

  avian flight splashes down with feathers ruffled
  they are fluffy youngsters no more
  child in adjacent playground screams as time stands still
  softened surface, its cries subside
  caged bird, imagine being imprisoned there
  like beach-plucked asylum seekers
  kept apart, kind captors walking by, looking in
  drainage channel under the bridge
  a weir catches detritus, the tunnel entrance
  do any ducklings make it through?

  rear of grand houses overlook, privileged view
  bandstand and gun memorial
  ghosts of war, forty thousand descendants patrol
  library of the nearby past
  fresh confident face, the old ways surely banished
  freedom for 'yoga-lycra' legs
  " get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand "
  power to wee Norwegian girl
  pull out big weeds, climatic tangles in our hair
  floods and bad weather expected

  empty heads, their cans strewn across the bowling green
  who let them out again last night?
  smiling lady clings to zimmer-frame, measured step
  just like captain Tom, flying high
  squirrels dart up and down, a pair of magpies hop
  " Saturday night at the duck-pond "
  dancehall, beehived girls, some were pretty, some were not
  the theatre of pleasing form
  colleges, schools, testosterone driving antics
  on over to the bigger park

  magnificent trees, there's multiplex and bingo
  civic castle near the station
  museum, walled-garden, woods where dinosaurs play
  gargantuan leisure centre
  eerie stillness, ...... yet another day for covid
  next empty pitches climb the hill
  gaze forever across the sea to Ailsa Craig
  volcanic plug, snowy mountains
  land of memory, haggis neaps and cullen-skink
  hear distant voices on the wind

  ominous clouds, our home is not too far away
  cut through the dip to light beyond
  meet Danny and his pup, there's talk of camper vans
  no mother's run, just running mums
  where's the r-plate school kids, their pavement mounted cars?
  fewer engines to puff and fume
  near our gate, relief to see dark-haired Peggy wave
  moggy cat slinks by, guilty look
  we stumble in, feel the warmth, our fire is lit
  shut the door, keep the virus out

  but then, ...... our little man may not be here today
  it is then, ...... we hear the silence
  then, ...... our letter-box rattles, parcel poking through
  then, ...... thoughts of our family missed
  then, ...... think of covid in that far-off village land
  then, ...... think of friends who battle on
  then, ......  think of plans, muddle past this uncertainty
  then, ...... think of coffee, think of lunch
  then, ...... watch wet snow slither down the window-pane
  then, ......stoke the fire, then, ...... fall asleep
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