Vivid Threads of Memory

paved hills in golden twilight

sky brushed with sanguine clouds

a mother with her girl and boy

stroll through their little town

pausing for polite hellos

and neighbourly goodbyes

past the local playground

and its vacant spinning rides

at the cenotaph’s graven names

where the setting sunlight dies

rounding on the railway

in the vast falling night

a sudden train shoots past

the dark, lanced by headlight

bleeds like red wine splashed

vivid threads of memory

from childhood long outgrown

time’s slow balm for grieving

the only parent i’ve ever known

ten years on is left a shadow

where once was bright affinity

a life reduced to hallows

that bring flowers she esteemed

~e