I live in a rural area of Highland Perthshire. This is our current reality.

Rural Reality

Withered leaves droop limply on the vine,

unpicked berries lie rotting on the ground.

Fields lie unploughed in the summer sun,

fallow memories of golden harvest.

Plastic avenues, once full of movement

silently echo with northern winds.

Old man sits silently at the table

as he listens to the lambs crying.

Coffee stained papers litter the room;

he stares vacantly at angst filled parchment.

Decisions to be made become harrowing

as the walls that surround him crumble.

That which was gained is now lost.

The land that was sown will be barren.

Mouths that were fed will now starve.

Futures once certain moved on.

As the clock winds slowly to midnight,

time will run out for some.

F Martin

© Oct 2018