Chill

You were chill in London 
and in Bologna
chill at the office 
chill at home thinking about it
chill as a needle 
dipped in mercury.

Chill in the summer
lying on the bed
as the sky’s red cave
went dark
your flatmates
chaining their bikes
below, little Manu singing.

In the Giardini Margherita
while your friends picnicked
you slept, or you walked there
at dusk
watched the rollerbladers.
It was a cold time.

Sometimes you’d light incense
to take off the chill
or in June run the heater.
You could be warm in winter 
an incense stick burning, 
on the window
unexpected rain.

@ianjmclachlan