THE PINK COUCH

by Jane Fox (May 2020)
Johannesburg Autumnal 2020

twang of racquets
yellow shuttlecock flying
Sirius leaping piggyinthemiddle
leaping and shouting
from the tattered pink couch
on my back stoep I watch them
trying to make him sit
 
trees secretly shake themselves
a small slow rain
amber russet tawny gold
falls through the still air
 
car races past driver
revving like a maniac
peace shot to pieces
every day same time
sets the hadedas going sets them
flapping and screaming for safety for
a moment all is riot and anarchy
I lift tea to mouth
tea to mouth
notice
the frayed sleeve of my old anorak
comforting
 
passers-by on the road
a Mum a Dad a pushchair and
two small dogs on leads
in hackled fury Sirius and Harry bolt for the fence
“MARAUDERSFOREIGNERSVANDALSRAPISTSTHIEVES”
the walkers go serenely on
their dogs
know how to behave
 
small breeze founders the shuttlecock
sun sinks lower behind the western ridge
I gather up mug and cushion
prepare to go inside
woodsmoke drifts up from the valley
they are lighting fires
down by the river
all day
they have been queueing for food parcels
it will be a cold night
 
Venus shines out silver in a pink sky
 
must go inside now