GRANDCHILDREN’S VISIT

Next day in the frost I stood once more

among your footprints, Their white dimpled sole patterns a frozen

memorial to a joyful afternoon. So too the following day, and the next, Until at lasting the creeping thaw melted

and blurred each one. But the memories, freeze-branded in my

mind, remain crisp and sharp. After you’d all left I wandered through the

silent garden and wood as darkness fell; Followed the footprints and sledge lines in

the snow, Recognised each child’s foot and heard again the banter and laughter of your play, Felt the familiar wistful pang of loss.