Voices Off
Dry today with a powder blue sky
A low sun paints rubber plant shadows on the back wall
I ignore the “to do” list and read to John Coltrane
“You should be outside on day like this” voices my mother
“Got his nose stuck in a book again” mutters my father.
I could be sweeping up fallen leaves
Brushing the muddy path
Raking the moss
A fire perhaps to glorify a windless winter day.
But no, I stick with my book
The “to do” list hovering on my shoulder
There are times here when even the sun can try to make you feel guilty.
A version of this was published in the Live from Worktown 2015 anthology
