Lime, olive

cedar

breath

when will

goodbye

not be tinged

with the forlorn?

It rumbles

like the rocks

and pebbles

as I left

the Lake for the

last time

this time

every footstep

a grinding

presence,

a remembrance,

no hope

of leaving

unconsciously.

We are leaving

the Timeless;

the seagull

on the

telegraph pole

sat in meditation

only moving

to stretch;

the recline

of lounging

so often denied

as books,

music, podcasts,

birdsong

and mountain view

incorporate

into rest.

Tomorrow

will be back to

trains,

timetables,

schedules

but for today

you rubbed suncream

into my back;

we drank beer;

laughed;

revelled in

and repelled the

future,

as I cried

tears I didn’t

know I had

into your shoulder.

You helped me down

the stairs,

we talked about

the moon and the

stars,

we kissed

wet kisses

in the shower

and the marble

floor

greeted our reflections

beaming

burnt

brilliant.

Wednesday 3^rd August 2022