Homage to Ed Clark

Deep into autumn
           many trees stripped bare
or gone to gold and rust
           a sparrow returns
to a familiar bush
           only to discover
that all the berries
           have been eaten

there’s a beautiful
           light grey sky up above
Ed Clark could’ve painted it
           and for some reason
or no reason at all
           I think of a piebald horse
I once saw grazing
           in a field in retirement

today the earth
           is spinning slowly
time is dragging its heels
           I should get a move on
head out into
           the big wide world
and prepare to fight
           the good fight
but then I think ok
           what’s the rush
the future can wait
           just a little longer

John Lyons