There was a moment when the sun shone

There was a moment when the sun shone

In glorious disguise of summer

Briefly breaking through a liquid sky

Almost falling in its haste to brighten

A sorry morning

Soggy from wet dreams and overspill

Bedraggled pigeons looking

For a handout unfurl umbrellas

Old crows wait it out

Among the fruit bats

Who hang upside down to keep their heads dry

Pretty pictures lie in melted butter

On a breakfast plate

Where a few crumbs of comfort

Crowd together in a corner

Placing bets on a rising tide

Of hysteria

Grandma counts raindrops

The way she counted pennies

Every single one she says is different

Just as it is with snowflakes

Although when she last saw one fall

Was not easy to recall

The image of their structure

Was as real to her as fairy lights

On Christmas trees

In the middle of a heatwave.

Nothing really matters

When it’s raining in your heart

And she had enough experience

To unpick the sorry stories

From the tall tales

It was why she always had company

At her table

Nobody left with egg on their face

Or a chip on a shoulder

She was a stickler for good manners

Clean collars

With not too much starch

To stiffen their resolve

Or cause irritation

She waited for the weather

To change before finishing her tea

The sun always shone in her world

You could see it in her smile

The years slipped away

Even the crows tipped a wink

As they shuffled together

In preparation

For their rainbow dance

As the rainclouds gathered

One last time

Before moving on to warmer climes

The sun breaking out

From its oppression like an escaped prisoner

Blinking rapidly in surprise

At its own appearance

All alone and naked

Beneath a big blue sky