The unread pamphlet


The unread pamphlet 
          ( in among husks)


Is the wind blowing ? 

Well it did yesterday. Why do you ask that? And what’s in your hair ?

Feathers of pheasant and feathers of ptarmigan

feathers of eagles and feathers of skua

feathers of nightingales in among husks

Can you reach to the luggage rack? In among husks I’ve a pamphlet I should have read yesterday

Give me a minute to gather my skirts

There’s a man in the corridor in a check jacket

It is tartan all over - his trousers both match but I’ve never seen tartan in yellow and black

He is carrying something - it looks like an aerial

It’s a butterfly net - I can see him right now

Going crawling through greenery

in among husks, chasing flapping fritillaries or a Red Admiral over a hill

even Peacocks Perfections if he took the notion

But not Painted Ladies - I could never approve

Please don’t keep staring - he’ll see us and start conversation and where would we be?

We’d be in among husks. Let us look out the window - we are making good time. After the pile up at Leeds that caused the kerfuffle. Feathers are everywhere. Oh look - did you see that ?

The chimney exploding ?

No. There ! ... Over there - it’s a llama

Alarming ?

A llama - surrounded by ostriches. in among husks

Oh surely it can’t be

Well they may have been sheep it was only a glimpse did you bring any lunch ?

Baskets of sugar mice baskets of barley sticks

That would be nice

Are you not on a diet? I thought that you might be

So when did you last see Aunt Agatha in among husks?

Not since the time we were picketing Parliament over the bill


........  “ Tickets please ” .....


Do you think It’s a good time to unfurl the banner? Hang it out the widow

Next station is Huddersfield. Good as any, I’d say

we are in among husks - it’s a beautiful day.


Anita Greg 04/08/2020





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