The day of the big winds
we got a call
to collect our eldest son.
‘Quiet’ they said.
He came home and was quiet
in bursts,
then energetic
then complaining of a sore tummy.
I was happy to have my brood
all under our roof
with the winds raging outside.
The day after the big winds
my eldest woke saying he felt fine.
We said no to school.
He was taken,
along with my youngest
to fly kites
in the residual winds.
Later they played
in the front garden.
I went with them
taking my scissors
so I could survey the damage
to the willow bower and
the weedy daisies.
It is amazing how quickly
the willow leaves wilt
once the bough breaks.
As I cut and re-tied
the boys played doctor
and made long rows of stones.
The men across the road
cheerfully put up scaffolding
where yesterday
a slate, or tile
or something or other
Sharp
Blew off
And hit a woman.
sandy bennett-haber 