Caretaking

at last the tomato plants

have begun to turn

it’s a good year albeit late

not so much chutney then after all,

the canopy of the willow

is already tinged orange-brown

parts of the understory hang lifeless too,

unthinking I feel the need to tidy

roll up hoses, tap out pots

bundle canes

gather early leaf fall, as if

I might sweep away this pitiful year,

a washing up bowlful of damsons

and pricked sloes as big as grapes

are already stored steeped in gin

keeping the claret company

in cellared darkness

something to look forward to

as thoughts of further incarceration

begin to trouble my early mornings

Published by grahamrsherwood