Motorway Dawn

Daybreak gloaming envelops my canvas dwelling,

Awaken to surround-sound silence and empty motorway;

Cold air, cold body; daylight, future, beckoning.

Unzip the flap, ancient sparks from London,

“Mosaic of Disarray” arcing across the car’s CD player,

“Channel D” playing through the speakers –

Howl of terror from the brakes,

End of the world by thud, passenger displaced,

Mangled refugee from normality.

Back to the here-now.

Small figure running towards the lake,

Phone mast towers overhead,

A tree planted by an insane cosmic gardener,

An alien tower rising over plantations and a chemical works.

Watching with sketchpad teetering on knees,

Figure – small boy – dives into the winter waters,

My fingers, painting itch, lines on the page,

Carbon pianist capturing the beauty before me,

Child swimming in the lake, unseen,

Wind turbine cutting through the skyline

The only movement on this bleak horizon.

Snap sketchpad shut; stand up;

Down to the lake, offer shelter from winter winds.