Dorothy Nimmo
Holed Up
You've got to stay put so make the best of it.
Find the chess-set and the jigsaws.
Check the camping-stove. Put on extra woollies.
It's going to be a long haul; you'll be sorry
if you finish everything the first day.
Ration the food. Make a timetable.
The road's blocked into the village. Anyway
they'll have sold out except for bird-seed
paper towels and detergent.
Make use of what there is. One winter
I painted the kitchen four different colours,
used up all the old emulsion.
If the electric fizzles out draw lots
which of the chairs to break up.
Think of it as a challenge.
It will remind you of war-time
if you are old enough. If not
I will remind you.
If you hear a helicopter
spread out a counterpane. The blue
will show up nicely.
Nothing more delicious than that last bit
of potato stuck to the pan. The heel
of a loaf, toasted, between us.
Draw the curtains to keep the heat in
and deal me another hand.
Do that jigsaw again.
Page(s) 63
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