I was planning to write a festive poem for December ‘Pint of Poetry,’ but never managed to do it. Then I thought I’d write something for this website. That didn’t happen either. I love Christmas; I love all festivals (any excuse for a party!). But it is not much of a party when there are no humans to share it with, and I couldn’t think of anything fun to write.
Anyway… I thought I’d share something I wrote for an online creative writing workshop during the 2020 COVID lockdown, organised by Stamford Arts Centre. We were given 5 prompts: Glass, Hair, Quiet, Name, and Switch.
Not festive, not a poem, but it is definitely seasonal. There were several storms this December.
I need more Coffee
It is 6 AM, and I am grumpy. Not just a ‘bit miffed’ type of grumpy. This is a full-scale tear-my-hair-out-in-frustration situation!
I wish people would put their bins away after the bin lorry has done its rounds!
Last night was windy. Another storm with a cuddly-sounding name…
As if that wasn’t noisy enough, there was some kind of bin disco going on in our street!
Lids banging, one rolled on to the road and crashed. Another was quick-stepping away to the next street when it was stopped by my overgrown hedge. Even our normally well-behaved garden bin was tempted! It was leaning against the side door in a drunken stupor, blocking my way to the light switch.
I don’t want to name and shame my neighbours, but some of them really need to learn bin etiquette! All I wanted was a quiet night’s sleep after a busy day. Instead I was a bin escort in my dressing gown at 3 AM!
I need more coffee!
No, scratch that! Pour me a glass of your finest Johnny Walker, please!
© Shalini Sinha Austin, 2020
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