Winter Weather

It's daylight now when I leave for the train

And only a thin scarf is needed for

The walk down to the station, yet before,

We get to Crowhurst, we've ground to a halt again.

This time it's ice on the conductor rail.

Tension rises, mobile phones snap out

'Tell Matthew I'll be late.' 'Who's not about?'

'Is Catherine there?' 'God, this makes my blood boil....'

Two weeks ago in Prague we had thick snow

With temperatures of minus ten below

Yet everything is working, all the streets

Are safe, the buses, trams and trains abound,

Tourists fill the squares, and all around

The cities unstressed heart, contented, beats.

Brian Hick 21.1.09

©copyright Sally Hick January 2022