Jigsaw Piece
I stride to the tarn just after noon,
sky grey as a heron’s back.
My feet squelch cotton grass;
a peewit carries in the air.
Smell of bracken leaves a tang
on the roof of my mouth.
On the tarn I view a wigeon,
beak dipping out and in of cold water;
his breast a blush of pink, eyes alert.
I pick up a jigsaw piece of egg,
white like a snow bunting.
Put it back.
I take one last look,
turn around to walk away.
Edwin Stockdale was born in Chester and has lived in Lancaster. He currently lives in Leeds. Aventurine, his debut pamphlet collection, was published last September by Red Squirrel Press. A full collection is forthcoming in September 2018.