I've been away at Chagstock (foolishly taking no photos) for a few days of outdoors family jollity. It was Pickle's first festival (although she's an old hand at camping) and she loved the big puppets, the hula hooping, the noise, the lights and best of all was learning to 'Aaaarrr' every time she saw a pirate (which happened a lot as that was the theme). In fact, she got so good at it, and currently has such piratical teeth (few, not black) that a soft-hearted stallholder gave her a pirate flag which she delighted in waving in my face for the rest of the day. I truly love the rhythm of my everyday life, but it's so refreshing to drop routines sometimes. There were challenges (try taking a toddler into a portaloo and preventing them from touching the sides), but my fear that she'd crawl out of our beloved bell tent in the night proved unfounded - of course she just crawled onto my chest.
So, sleep-deprived, sun-kissed and happy, I have for you a whole clutch of stones to sort through and feel the shapes of. I hope you find one that fits your palm.
That first time
As she staggers -
bump - up -
staggers over the field,
young buzzards
take tiny loops of -
dip - swoop -
loops of flight from the hedge.
We mothers hover, cheering -
cautioning - congratulating -
cheering them on.
The Band
The band pours all over us.
Pensioners abandon stick-stools
and leap and clap and yell.
Teenagers waiting for a different sound
play cards at the back of the tent.
Babies in ear defenders
slump on shoulders
or sleep in scattered stars
across the trampled grass.
Keep your sunsets
A happy, sleeping child.
You can keep your sunsets;
I could gaze all night.
Keep your sunsets
A happy, sleeping child.
You can keep your sunsets;
I could gaze all night.
Knickers and Lego
My husband dreamed he was buying me knickers
but got distracted by free Lego.
Then he awoke in a house with
more Lego than decent knickers.
And at last the sun
And at last the sun
highlights my heart.
And then I remember
And then I remember
I make the rules for myself.
And in breaking them
I am offered new patterns.
