For day 26 of Paul Brookes’ April poetry challenge, a san san poem inspired by Anjum Wasim Dar’s painting Half the Year. You can read all the poetic responses and see the other images on Paul’s blog here.

When no bird sings

We have stepped into the light,
the leafing trees with birdsong ringing,
and slanting sun is honey-sleek.
Behind, the dark year, deep as night,
and black as feathered crow-birds winging,
we sup the sun, with up-palmed hands,
forget how silent, bitter-bleak
is dawn in stark and birdless lands.