At the other end of autumn, with the pigeons flocking
on the roofs across the street from where I now live.
Pegging out the winter washing to the sound
of muffled bass-beats, or next-door’s kids yelling,
The smoke-smell of bonfires tinting the air,
like these cold November days – not letting go – lingering –
And, like I didn’t know before, I’m over again learning
That sorrow is a place I’ve got to live.
At the other end of autumn, with the summer still ringing
in my ears, like dead leaves still clinging
to the back-garden chestnut tree – the ones the wind couldn’t shake.
Fingers frozen, but I keep on pegging,
a little lower than the pigeons, learning now to pray,
Reminding myself that I am sworn to give
all that I can to this foreign place
and wishing that someone could tell that I’m dreaming
of the other end of autumn, where you still live.
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