Greater and Lesser Winter

by Henry Bell

That full ripe Glasgow sun
is warming up the courgettes and smashed TVs
in my Back Court

The sky is black to my left
bright blue to my right — it rains against itself
and the drops dry on the warm concrete

Summer must be taken seriously
in Glasgow where limbs hang out of windows
thrilled to be as bright as the sun

Summer must be taken seriously
when it comes short and sharp
and fills your mouth with the taste of rain