Just clearing me desk, me darlins, cos I is away for me 51st birthday in sunny Spain! :)) Will be back again in about ten days, but until then, be good, have fun and hasta la vista! Siempre, Kate xx

SHE FLIES HIS KITE


She took his kite –
a faded, misshapen tangle
of tissue, sticks and string –
and walked away from him
backwards, carefully unravelling
his mess of bits on the bouncy
spring grass, its buoyant green
willing flight.

He watched the way
her eyes moved, anticipating
each curious uncrossing
of lame stick from limp,
self-sorrowing string;
her deft fingers plucking
sad tissue into place;

the bite of her lip as with
sharp, upward jolts of her arms
she shook the bird to life.

Then her rainbow gleam of eyes,
taut triumph of her lifted cheeks
as the playful diamond dipped
deep into the dancing blue;

her unconscious flick of wrist
tying ribbons of warm air with
every pull on his string.

March 1963 and they were both ten.

But he knew then
she would never let go.