When all the clocks stop for an hour
Frozen in the longest night of the year
The artificial human calendar determines
The way we live now.
On the day when darkness abruptly arrives
With suddenly long shadows early afternoon
We need to switch on lights to eat our dinner
Our signal to get going.
The shift from summer time to winter time
Marking the end of our northern sojourn
Sets our departure date for warmer places
Seeking the subtropical sun.
We will be walking the beach next week
Happy to have each other to share it with
Looking at the many birds we can identify
Watching the waves roll in.
