Thoughts of a Soo

This half term, I asked my sister to take me for a walk along long things. We walked the pier (pausing for a ride on the Carousel) and then the harbour arm. I love being at the end of things and on the edge of things. So good too to catch a rainbow on the sea.   Before we went out I asked my Mum and Dad to join me in a photo and we squished on the garden bench and then relocated when we realised the sun was right in our eyes... Here's to me and my sis and that rainbow. And to remembering that storms soaking you makes you feel real, and when you put a neck scarf on your head it keeps your hair dry, but makes your sister laugh. And here's to the fact hot showers and dry clothes are blessed indeed. And here's to future adventures and pizza parties and laughter and to friends that buy the party rings when they know you're coming to town.

I think this supercedes my other Autumn poems... This Was Once a Good Poem   but it has eaten cheese and pickle rolls for a week now and it can’t work out why the vitamins aren’t working. It rocks in the chair until its eyes are too tired to see and has scared itself with thoughts of Autumn spiders under glasses in the hallway. It is wondering if it is true that conkers in corners keep arachnids at bay and is now standing in the dark sniffing last year’s horse chestnuts desperate to find their scent.   The poem began forming during an Arvon Masterclass run by Caroline Bird and I wanted it to become a little whole thing of its own. It was then published by Ink, Sweat and Tears as part of their 'Choice' themed National Poetry Day feature 2021. I love the Ink Sweat and Tears site all year round and thoroughly enjoy exploring the poems chosen for the annual celebration of National Poetry day.