Wendy Cope: "The Orange"

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange—
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I got a half.

And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It's new.

The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I'm glad I exist.



"The Orange" by Wendy Cope. Text as published in Serious Concerns (Faber & Faber, 1993).

Art credit: Untitled image by unknown photographer.

Wendy Cope: "New Season"

No coats today. Buds bulge on chestnut trees,
and on the doorstep of a big, old house
a young man stands and plays his flute.

I watch the silver notes fly up
and circle in blue sky above the traffic,
travelling where they will.

And suddenly this paving stone
midway between my front door and the bus stop
is a starting point.

From here I can go anywhere I choose.

"New Season" by Wendy Cope, from Serious Concerns. © Faber and Faber, 1992.  

Photography credit: "Flute Player III," by Robert Fries (originally black and white).