At the End of the Day

Bell rings at six-thirty, and leave the bed at seven

Coffee, shower, dress, eat; the daily hurry’s given.

The car dodges traffic; I look for music meanwhile

Then to “work” – good morning – and chat and question and smile.

I’ve given up the coffee, and tea with cardamom

It’s two cups from one tea-bag, and tiffin packed by Mum.

Snacks and biscuits also; also sudden deadlines

Along laughing hours are hidden potholes, landmines.

The days are growing longer; the sky may still be light

When I leave the office, already wanting a bite.

The dogs look tired, dirty; the baby on the pavement

Rests and frolics with them, in her dirty raiment.

I take the fastest way back; the city looks impatient

I dive into my laptop without losing a moment.

The dogs may turn up, hopeful, with eloquent eyes

‘We never seem to meet you,’ someone says and sighs.

I add that to the list of things I am doing wrong

And wonder whether I should play Moonlight or a song.

Coffee, dinner, surfing, brushing, combing, goodnight

Tomorrow I shall solve it, I’ll make that thing all right.

Few minutes of quietness, before inviting sleep

Let the ripples rest now, let them be still and deep.

In the sea of my every day, it’s only ’minute or two:

Then and only then I let myself think of you.

3 O’clock News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 o’clock in the office

I feel like yawning a lot.

So taking the long route through

To the coffee machine I trot.

 

The office has secret passages

Unbarred, oldish windows;

Strips of the busy old city

Each one of them shows.

 

Further afield are rooftops

Tin tiles, dirty, broken;

Every time I look out

I hunt for a feline token.

 

On dirty, broken rooftops,

You have to have a cat;

Hunting for his dinner

Or just smugly sat.

 

Imagine my pleasure

When today I found

Not one but two – black and white –

On that rooftop ground.

 

The white seemed to be a tomcat

The black a plumpish girl;

She sat down for some grooming

Her tail in a casual curl.

 

He seemed hesitating

Waiting, watching her

Although all her attention

Was given to her fur.

 

Then very tentatively

Tom did attempt a kiss

Smack! She jumped and slapped him

With an angry hiss.

 

“Seize the moment,” I read

Not backward neither forward;

Peace must be here and now

That’s the crucial word.

 

So I saw the moment

This winter afternoon;

In the midst of crammed addresses

A moment of rare commune.

 

England, tarry awhile

This, here, is my city:

Busy, noisy, thriving

Not very serene or pretty.

 

But here in a nook, a corner

Amazing moment was that:

Calm in the midst of bustle

And one black, one white cat.

 

(Image copyright does not belong to me; words’ copyright does. So there.)