It had been a pointless day,
not unpleasant, but overly long.
Last year, had been different.
She’d had them all round: her son,
his wife, Jack and Zac, the twins,
with baby Annabelle. Today,
they’d face-timed, (now living in Idaho).
The children were too excited
to sit still. Her son was hungover,
his wife looked worn out, harassed,
All five in a strange, bare room. They lost
connection after five minutes. Sorry,
he WhatsApped later, we’ll speak more
on New Year’s day. She sipped
her way through a bottle
of indifferent rosé. Napped a little,
stretched out on her empty sofa.
Awaking confused, veiled by dusk,
her doorbell chimed. There they stood,
Surprise! We were waiting to get home .
Got a last minute flight. Hope that’s okay?
Read more:
Ceinwen lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and writes short stories and poetry. She has been widely published in web magazines and in print anthologies. She is a Pushcart and Forward Prize nominee. Her first chapbook 'Cerddi Bach (Little Poems), was published in 2019 by Hedgehog Press. She is developing practice as a participatory arts facilitator, mainly working with elders and intergenerational groups. She believes everyone’s voice counts.
Latest posts by Ceinwen E Cariad Haydon (see all)
- On the Rag: No Bins, No Incinerator [1962] - 9th February 2023
- Saturnalia - 18th December 2022
- Hope That’s Okay? - 15th December 2021