Coal delivery

by Petra Vergunst

Still, frost hangs on this morning
but at your front gate daffodils
have already raised their heads
you snap one, warm spring in your hands

The coal delivery should have called in yesterday
but failed to turn up
and when you phoned
the sheds had been empty

You plant the daffodil in a vase
and watch how the strengthening sun
blows its trumpet

Your chair against the east facing wall
shadow wraps
as a dark ghost around you

You can’t shrug off your lack of coal
and can but watch and wait
the sun brightens
spring cuts still