vanishing species

we don't see the squirrels

And the brown tailed birds,

That used to come to our flat to

Eat my left over lunch mama

Are they among the vanishing species?

my son wondered.

I was nonchalantly watching

A five year old walking past

My house with a heavy load

Of books seriously reciting the maths tables to his mother,

You can add one more to your list

Of vanishing species sonny A LAUGHING CHILD I said.