One winter’s night

Two geese fly
           in a diagonal
across Ladbroke Grove
           heading south-west
to Wimbledon or beyond
           their elongated bodies
betraying the intensity
           of their purpose

Tonight
           there’s a half-moon
and as darkness descends
           not a cloud in the sky
and stars in abundance
            and with the temperature
dropping to freezing
            I think of the geese
and what comforts
           they will have
as they bed down
           for the night

John Lyons