Stars and Lichen

Yesterday evening,

while driving into the city

I thought how easy it would be

if I lived ten minutes walk

or drive from everything

and how, as a city dweller,

I could go to Nivara Lounge

every week or more

to listen to music,

and visit art galleries

and walk in parks

just down the road,

without the trek in

at the end of the day,

without the trek back

sober, because

'don't drink and drive'.

Last night,

after the party,

I drove home in the dark,

squinting through the fog,

singing along to old favourites

the Stones, Billy Joel and Cake,

trying to stay awake,

being the sober driver

and finally there we were,

beneath a black sky,

the Milky Way spilling

over our home

more stars than

city folk can dream of,

and this morning

sunshine and chickens,

lichen on the fence post.