Slow, down duvet <br />Hanging,15-tog heavy, <br />Hugging <br />The early morning valley floor <br />In its ephemeral embrace: <br />Smother than silk, <br />Softer than baby hair ‘gainst cheek. <br /> <br />Valley villages <br />Nestling still, <br />Cuddling down deep <br />Under the warm caress <br />Of their Sunday slumbers; <br />Hoping not to hear, <br />Trying not to heed <br />The call they knew would be <br />Shortly sounding <br />From every sainted steeple, <br />Resounding off the walls <br />Of consciousness and conscience <br />In search of that <br />Long-installed, ritual response <br />To its insistent invitation. <br /> <br />In stark contrast to this comfy lethargy, <br />Life above the snowline was <br />Crisp air, <br />Children shelling each other with snowballs, <br />The crump of snow under boot-sole <br />And squint-inducing, streaming sunshine. <br /> <br />Such a different day <br />On either side of the duvet.<br /><br />Tony Jolley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/slow-down-7/
