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--chosen-work--
Solstice
They walk in solemn silence
each with head bowed low
defending cloistered world from
cawing of the crow which calls but cannot fly
against the razor-sharp north gale
ice tears form in my eyes as I pass by
the crow has met a pigeon
perched high upon the tiles
neither will yield space but
both will have their say not they nor
magpie screeching sparrowhawk
will be in luck today
Their walk not even paused
though warmth is blown away
stumble into knee-high blaze
they concentrate on messaging
their clumsy thumbs hands unglove
but I can see the sparkling frost
on pavement and on grass
surviving everywhere the failing beams
from the low south eastern sun
my midday shadow lengthens down the street
look through frozen tears as it dances on the trees
to vanish where the wood and railings meet
a vault of blue above yet frozen still
ice in the north wind spring is far away