For Berenice
all autumn sunshine and chill
the Phoenix Park crisp
two of us on a Sunday morning run
religiously fit and fluid
breathing in the moment
our worn soles lightening
around and between the
brunched green revellers
families holding back children and dogs
grasses bent
under strolling figures long departed
a sudden gust cuts across the parkland
ducking under trees
drawing a wheezy breath
shears through an ancient beech
it carries
a swirling leafy eddy
flashed iridescent by low sun
then gone
spent
a shower of twisting gold
fluttering to the ground
our stride
keeps pace
breathing long settled
snaking a path back to the car
(photo Natalie O’Grady alltrails.com)
The Curlew's Call 