The favourite guest

 

Yours is the empty chair beside my table,

Yours is my best Darjeeling, laid away

For golden afternoons when you are able

To spend sweet, short hours here, and make my day.

 

Yours are the books, the sewing, the thank-you letter,

The art discussed, performances compared,

My poems, (you said my scansion’s ‘getting better’)…

The birthday cards, the chocolate ginger – shared;

 

And this is how  I indulge in ‘multi-tasking’

Details, like words and notes within a song

Which I would sing to you, each moment asking

For your return: don’t stay away too long,

 

Since mine is the waiting-time when you’re not with me,

Like night, when patience stretches through hours so small

Until our next occasion - when you can give by me

Your time – and make of ours, the best of all.

                                                                             Angela Arratoon     


Highly Commended in the Ealing  Arts and Leisure Competition 2009, judged  by Kit Wright

 

 

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