Sometimes
The late afternoon sun
Lays upon the leaves just right,
Evoking green from long ago,
Light from faraway.
The cooling days of autumn,
The end of endless summer,
Staring at the sun-painted green world
From a different classroom window.
After school,
We'd make the most of the deep blue evenings
Watching the sun set behind Cave Hill.
We're suddenly in shadow (the warm into cold of the air),
The new and old scent of peat fires relit
For the first time in ages.
We trade sunlight for streetlight.
Growing up in the dull orange glow
Of sodium vapor.
Sullenly railing against the end of the day,
Before my mum calls me home.
Soon there will be more night, less light.
Frosty dark mornings.
Up far too early,
Walking to the bus stop on the Antrim Road.
The streets are icy, but the passing gritter
Assaults both road and boy.
Just an insult added to injury.
September was the start of our year, back then.