He was in London earning their keep,
making what he could, stashing it away
for the things they needed
while she waited, frustrated
wishing she were there, or better yet,
that he’d come home
Together was so much better
even if it did mean less
Together was more to her
It was everything
She pondered so long in the silence
that the sun slipped unnoticed
behind the hill
that space where she could sit
with enough view to be still
think and sink deep
away from the loneliness
the solitude of dreaming
and wishing his return
Heart spilled so willing into those hills
she never saw the creature’s approach
she, quiet as a stone, except for breathing
until something moved in the dusk
and walked across her feet
heavy against her toes, light and quick on his;
Two black bands, flag of his species
marked the intense white face
and thick fur, the char-grey body
brushed past in an instant
unaware of the human he trod on
knowing only himself
bull badger
Responsibility on his mind
tread out and forage for food;
bring it back to the sett
be rejoined with mate and cubs
but the diggings are better
on the other side of the hill
a night’s walk away
Leaving them behind, he went hunting
All they need is food, she thought
unlike us
In the dim evening light, her only company
an infant nursing at her breast
She stood and stretched
pushed blood and breath into her limbs
and walked down the hill
back to their empty house
wishing it took less to be human
glad at least of her one sweet cub
and of toes, trampled by a badger
Badger Image courtesy of: http://www.borderpics.co.uk/badgerpics/images/badger_emerging_4232.jpg
Posted for One Shot Wednesday
Posted to http://onesingleimpression.blogspot.com/ Prompt 172: Long For
