Diana was taking down the Christmas decorations and packing them into two cardboard boxes which she would take to the attic room which overlooked the church

She stared at her tree which was dark and bare and regretted her disposal

It was still raining outside so she pulled her everyday mackintosh over her shoulders and ventured on to the path towards her garden shed

Gently she placed the corpse of the tree into a muddy puddle where the bonfire once roared

At the end of the garden her stream had flooded and had doubled its width

It did so every year

Diana removed her shoes and ran towards the stream

In her pocket was a poem that she had written

Whilst resting in front of the fire on New Year’s Eve

Once a year they dance within my tree
For it is the season to be free
But soon enough December ends
And with regret I lose my friends

Diana read the poem quietly to herself and then wrapped the paper into a tight ball and threw it into the swollen stream

Take it the to the river my friend and by tonight I will have forgotten this simple rhyme

She said to herself as she returned to her warm house

 

 

2018