When the Dogs Bite: 4th January 2024

morning barking

the dog steals a chocolate orange

the promise of sunshine

my parents' house

had leaded windows and wooden doors;

each room with a fireplace and chimney

(that were never lit)

and consequently full of draughts in winter.

Mum made heavy curtains

double-backed for the windows

and unlined for all the doors

and Dad cut plywood to fit the fire holes

to cut down the chimney draw

but still we piled blankets on the beds

and topped them with our overcoats.

When the Dogs Bite