Loving a Quiet Corner

Loving a quiet cCorner
I retreat to the attic,
rising above the churn of home,
the drone of the television,
just before it’s time for tea.

The cat lounges lazily,
resting on the bed,
or sprawled in a sunlit rhombus.
That gentle keeper of time.

From here, I watch the sky,
and seasons unfold.

Today, leaves wave wildly.
Rain begins to drum on the Velux.

The rain’s rhythm drowns out-
traffic’s rumble,
barking dogs,
birdsong,
and the distant toot of a train.

My laptop rests on plush, ribbed cushions,
surrounding me with comfort,
easing my thoughts.

I miss the chorus of children,
once filling this space,
even the chaotic tempest of teen years,
fleeting as this summer storm.

Now, there is time,
to write poetry,
to reflect.
On the world,
the good, the evil,
the unforgiven and the unforgettable.
My small part in it.

I light an incense stick,
eucalyptus curls and drifts,
soothing, healing.

Here, I read my words aloud,
in peace,
a fragment of my mind,
my sanctuary
where thoughts linger,
and I hear myself again.