I think about sadness
and the way it fills the space
in a day like water. Life rafts exist –
in morning Lego builds,
the way you watch sunflowers,
how you notice the shape of buttercups,
a bumble bee straw in fresh apple juice,
a pub landlord knowing your name,
train spotting,
teaching you how to spell ‘train spotting’,
your confidence
that you are the fastest runner on Earth –
but how do I swim to them
when my feet and hands are tied?

Carl Burkitt 2025