Stephen Robertson

Slanting Lines

Beds and trees and windows

A corner of a tree-bordered square

trees around the edges of a field

the trees in the front garden

a triangle of back gardens, full of trees

along a tree-lined road into the distance.

The first bedroom I had to myself

had windows on two sides.

One looked across to a busy road

but from my bed I looked out on

a corner of a tree-bordered square.

The second had one window, rather high—

from the bed all I could see was sky.

But rising gave me sight

of an acacia, a fence and many

trees around the edges of a field.

Our first double bedsitter

was on the first floor front

with a large window.  From our bed

we could see the tops of

the trees in the front garden.

The second was at the back

of a London terrace in a triangle of streets.

From the bed the window was hidden

but from the table we could see

a triangle of back gardens, full of trees.

In our first house together

the bedroom was again first floor front.

Across the tiny front garden and the street

a tee-junction, and a line of sight

along a tree-lined road into the distance.