Hunger Games

Always fun to observe the seagulls on a school playing field (written 5 years ago and edited twice since)

The seagulls play the field,

moving as one like two-legged sheep

absently pecking the stud-holed turf.

More join the game

winging in circles towards the ground

carried by the wind’s breath

beneath their standard-issue uniforms.

They chase, they dive, they squabble and rush,

The ref is called in –

That was a definite foul.

Then with an unspoken order

the match is disbanded,

each player floating away like paper

in effortless flight through the open.

Now the field lies desolate,

Glimpses of the aerial athletes

appear then disappear overhead.

In the other field the real players

push goals and chase balls

like eager dogs.

One day I think their toy,

kicked skyward,

might not come back down again.