what will you do now you’re alone in the sun
ask your shadow to leave you for a while
send your shadow to market where it can
frighten chickens, the women selling red powder
let your shadow enter the forest of tall trees
stroke the snouts of grunting boars, count
silent horses
slow breaths
beetles
just nod if you’re feeling giddy floating
above your footsteps
above the wavy grey line
Fokkina McDonnel’s poems have been widely published, anthologised, and nominated for the Forward Prize. Many have been successful in competitions. She has two collections and a pamphlet published. (Nothing serious, nothing dangerous her second collection, is published Indigo Dreams.) Fokkina received a Northern Writers’ Award from New Writing North in 2020. Website/blog: https://www.