POETRY
      David Kelly — 'After the rain'

the air is cool and moist
after the late Autumn rain
with the rough dry heat gone
it’s good to get through
a day’s work on the farm
and though a lot of stubble
is still jabbing up
little blonde needles
of memory and threat
today the hills look like
the pale green wash
of a watercolour painting
smooth and restful on the eyes
the scattered sheep
resemble the rocks and boulders
same shape same dirty colour
and the ewes are happy
their bouncy white lambs
one or two days young
stick out like parts of the paper
you haven’t coloured in yet