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?
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