The Peacock
Do you remember the peacock that ate the grape that rolled from our picnic? How we were amused at first by the swollen oval in its neck? Then shocked by how slowly it sank. I remember swallowing hard wishing that would help, looking to its eyes wanting to know if it was panicking yet. It stood stately, unblinking, before taking ballet steps across the grass its head back and to, searching for other things to peck. Do you remember us going back later to check it hadn’t choked? Us hugging each other in sheer relief?
Bio: Sue Finch’s debut collection, ‘Magnifying Glass’, was published in 2020. She loves the coast and the scent of ice-cream freezers. You can follow Sue on Twitter: @soopoftheday.
Fevers of the Mind 