Raindrops hang like tears
from the solitary tree
outside my window.
Its bare cold branches
heavy with the falling rain.
It weeps for the world.
A blackbird perches
on the drab, grey leafless branch
And sings its heart out.
The gentle snowdrops,
Their innocent heads held high,
Swaying in the breeze.
Petals like teardrops
hang down, clustered together,
a pure, white, delicate gown.
Their tender green stems
Stand proud, they do not falter,
Defying the wind.
Day is almost done.
Between the trees, soft lights shine.
The world looks softer.
Anne
A Necklace of Stars, working with older people in Derbyshire, is supported by Arts Council England, Arts Derbyshire, DCC Public Health and Derbyshire County Council Home Library Service. This project is particularly aimed at countering isolation; during the pandemic we’ve been working using distance methods – post and phone conversations. Alongside writing and embroidery themed around childhood lullabies, we invite written responses to the pandemic, so that people can share their experiences as an antidote to lockdown loneliness. Here, Anne’s haiku sequence tells a story, moving from a dark mood towards the light — as the day itself travels in the opposite direction.