I began the day
At the old Sycamore
Given to the village
To commemorate something big
Like
Colonialism
And organised takeover
Yet see how much life it holds
Hawthorn and pigeon
Crows and ivy
Weave and cling to its enormous
Being
It was my mother’s birthday
And the cat
Modern tech
Linked the family
Across the globe we laughed
And I threatened to write a book
About our memories
At the old mill again
Ravaged and robbed
By time and people
Now it is a tumble of stone
And hints of watercourses
The kids adore it
Racing across the meadow
And into the fast water
Finally
At the close of day
I watched Alien
And watched their faces
When John Hurt’s
Stomach
Exploded
They weren’t expecting it
Even when aliens are involved
We never expect such horror
Until it’s done
And he is lying
Dead on the supper table
The alien fled
The human gore remains
We can but see the past and learn
Of the pain when what we love
Is taken
Nwyfre 