The Window

Silent and still in luminous love
the sky glows marshmallow pink above

Gravestones stretch out in perfect lines
Timeless reminders of those left behind

Beyond, a stadium screams out with roars
writ small overhead a herring gull soars

It searches the crowd for a morsel to eat
finds target, swoops down to alight on a seat.

Beak pecks in, eyes dart around
Danger, it seems, doesn't want to be found

The people around have another fixation
another clear focus for their agitation

He looks at the creatures, then follows their gaze
scanning the field through a heat-sharpened haze

More creatures move there, a round thing is thrown
Out of the crowd comes an almighty groan.

For an instant the gull is drawn into the action
feeling a sense of forgotten satisfaction

That moment's enough, our gull can't break free
how could he know what was destined to be?

The seat's wayward owner returns, of course.
Oh dear Jeannie baby, I've sat on some sauce!