Poem: Bits of belief

'A mellow evening, stretching...'

by Steve Day 16th January 2026

A mellow evening, stretching
pieces of present layered across the past
in a palimpsest pattern of threadbare branch,
brittle leaves curled into parchment.
We sat by a fire burning trimmed Yew
and counting the stars that surround Orion.
Over and over we had wrapped scarves
around our heads to protect us against toxins
though the wood only smouldered a light
pungency, smoking the old scolded
bark beneath the bonnie.