Elmet the last independent Celtic kingdom in
England badlands a sanctuary for refugees from the law or so said Ted Hughes
he read it as he walked
a skittering woke his attention
in the middle of the street on its weathered facethe sand erodingtpebbles
singular scattered obvious separatecitadels running over it was a dandywhirl of several
leaves turning one way and then the other one chasing the others the others
chasing one chasing two three broke into the lead across the street towards him and leapt the high curb onto the sidewalk
those who chased them pulled up short backed off then disbanded fleeing possibly him
and the three on the sidewalk before
him he startled two fled back onto the street the third hurled itself at the chainlink
fence and tried to climb it
there was no wind
the leafsomewhat waxen slipped on
the links and fell down onto the dirt
mesmerised he stepped towards it
it stood facing the fence and
must have decided it was supple enough to yet fold rather it rolled itself up and jumped through
a link unfurling safely on the other side
he knelt down leaned forward
clutched the fence his handfingers looking clawish
the leaf backpedaled though still intently facing him
it looked right
he looked left
its two playmates returned had
worked their way up the street ahead of him they leapt over the curb onto the
sidewalk and crossing the dirt they began to collapse like paper rolled for
cigarettes
they jumped through separate
holes between the links
he looked back at the leaf
it was facing him
then it flopped wiggled and fled over
the grass as its playmates angled towards it
he watched them run to a handball
wall and disappear around behind it
Hmmm
how fortunate was he
1234, Reggae Friday, 5 2.
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