many miracles
A MIRACLE?
Tasked by God to patrol the beach everyday looking out for lost children, non-regulation sandcastles and sea urchins, black cat was following his usual route, though a little later than was his habit because he’d had to mediate a disagreement between a seagull and a razor fish - fairness is the top priority at this beach. The shadow of two lovers holding hands looking out to sea cast upon him and so caught his attention. Looking up he noted all was well with the couple, no infringements, then his eyes followed the direction of their interest towards the horizon. Taken aback and slightly panicked by what he saw, he froze knowing deep inside that this was important, more important than his task.
The sky had taken on a bright pink hue especially backlit in gold, by God, and the sun. No longer it’s pale bright yellow, white which black cat had up until then only ever experienced in his young life, but the sunk golden orange, red and pink, like the consumed coals of the barbecues he sometimes noted on his patrols.
He felt this was a rare and special message and so determined it was acceptable to stop, sit and witness this, this what? This miracle? (He had heard talk of miracles from the other patrols at the annual gathering of patrols which takes place in a different part of town each year.) Well, whatever this was black cat knew it’s beauty was not common, and he knew beauty, so considered himself a well informed judge of this phenomenon.
Sitting in the shadows now casting longer, the sun sinking lower - will it ever return? The sky now darker fuchsia pink verging indigo, a flash of golden red and orangey pink were now the suns only cloak. All at once mesmerising and consuming, as if this was all and everything that mattered, ever. The panic that kept trying to surface inside black cat never got to take a breath despite this brand new ending, for he knew it was an ending, having unknown consequences.
The longer he sat, the cooler and a little stiffer in the body he became. He needed to stretch out his long limbs, his beautiful spine. So he did, always keeping the disappearing sun, and the darker, darker sky in sight. Now, the sun, barely a shimmer of pink flame at the end of the sky and the beginning of the sea. Black cat found himself, now fully stretched out, the blood flowing well again, wondering what happens next. What happens when the sun is fully sunk into the sea, yet the wonder was just that, not infused with any fear or worry, but just the openness and breath-stealing wonder from which you cannot look away. What happens next, black cat whispered once more to himself, for he was now alone on the beach, the couple having turned and left at some point, at least, he was no longer in their shadow.
GLASS OF WATER
The glass of water pulses in time with my heart though it stands on the table beside me without my touch, it knows me, my vital rhythms; life meet life.
BURGUNDY
A deep, precise in pressure and placement, bone breaking hammer to the chest. Out floats my burgundy, syrupy blood, glooping great globs slowly down my chest. I hold my blouse further open so you can see me better, my head angled back, chin lifted too - do you see me now. My eyes staring down at you asking of you all the questions my voice couldn’t as you stand there aghast. My blood pooling at my feet, begins now to slope achingly slowly towards yours, though you haven’t noticed yet, so frozen are you, so taken aback by my aggressive questioning. Still. No response. Still. More blood. Still. Unseen. My daily death.
GOOD MORNING
Yes, you are alone, but at the same time you are less alone when you see more - when you learn to look.
A world can unfold in front of you, your world; steadfast, always present in the bark on your favourite tree - “good morning”, the frog that lives in the damp coolness behind your recycling bin - “how are you today?” And the water gushing from the tap in to your glass first thing in the morning, quenching a night-long thirst - “thank you.”
When you learn to look, you realise you are held, comforted, befriended and helped by all manner of beings. You are less alone than you think.
THINNESS
The line between ‘here’ and ‘there’ is thinner than you think. Something to bear in mind.
21Feb26