shelter

 

–
we play to pass the time well

 

we choose a spot that is hidden, far back in the

woods.  where the branches creak and the wind

in the conifer leaves sounds like the sea

 

I watch the lichen growing on the tree trunks

 

everything is far off.  we check the sky.

for thunder and other things.

 

dirty grey like a puddle, it is heavy but not

yet fallen

 

pine needles settled like dust on the floor

crackle softly as our foots press down.

 

we build the structure sturdy as we can

with the strongest branches

 

near the end I drape a blanket over for a

roof and cover it with brown leaves

spread out like stars

–

 

the moon is circular and  bright as a lamp

 

behind the clouds which are pencil

grey

 

we huddle under our canopy

of blanket and branches and leaves and sticks

 

the sky comes in through little gaps

I say. see that. how it glows all in a circle

it means something.

 

my coat is warmer (Superdry) I wrap it around

the both of us and I give over my stripy gloves as

his hands are smaller

 

our breath takes up the air like smoke

 

something good? he whispers real

quiet into my shoulder.  I can only see

the top of his hair which is super-blond

 

you look like a rabbit all curled up. I say. a snow rabbit

because they are the best kind and very pale.

or a blond hedgehog.

 

whichever.

 

I wrap my bright pink scarf around us both also

over my ears to block the dark out

 

and turn off the torch as

it doesn’t have much battery

 

probably. something really good. I say.

–

 

the sea is near. if it is still there listening

 

the ground is colder than I knew

we lie here still

 

and breathing shallow. we have

one blanket one tarpaulin (bright blue)

one small  torch two batteries one pack of

salt biscuits one  Power Ranger rucksack

 

a lighter half full, a stone shaped like

a square. a small box.

 

I hold him. partly so we have a

lower surface area, like penguins

 

and partly because of night animals

 

I dream I am in a car full of people

we are driving fast down

a long road

 

towards a cliff.  I hear seagulls and engine

and wheels

 

out of everyone I am the only one

without my throat slit

 

 

Catherine Taylor lives in Norfolk when not working overseas for an international development charity. She is currently studying humanitarian response in emergencies.