By Ceinwen E Cariad Haydon
Daily, she studies the forecast
then watches clouds, checks breezes
for compliance with BBC bulletins.
On good days, sheets and towels billow
and dance to sweet-scented dryness.
Today, she misjudges, loses control.
Storms and damp washing outpace her,
recall a million small, musty failures.
Broken confidence envelops her
with dense mist. Despair spreads
and she leaks away upstairs. Her last
sight
from the attic rafters –
jumping raindrops on the Velux,
gems reflecting a fresh rainbow.
When her neighbour calls
the laundry is dry
ready to be gathered in.
Ceinwen lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and writes short stories and poetry. She has been widely published in web magazines and in print anthologies. She is a Pushcart (2019 & 2020) and Forward Prize (2019) nominee. She believes everyone’s voice counts and is developing practice as a participatory arts facilitator.
