Chill in the Air
Dry, cold, whipping breeze
Clear sky, black pricked with light
Leaves cartwheel along the empty walk
Branches reach, snatch at my hair and my cloak
Expanse ahead, a sandy beach
Water, small ripples, no tide
Slicing, flashing, flickering light
A full moon low in the sky
Sweet sound, low mewling, hard to find
Shrouded in shadow, dark as the night, yellow eyes
A kitten calling
Shivering, damp, in the palm of my hand
Wrapped up in the edge of my cloak
Retreating, not thinking, scurrying out of the wood
To get home.
Effie Graves 