Amanda Bell

Holiday Home

Within 24 hours of arriving, every single time, I have a tantrum. Because the place is completely overgrown, because we can’t get into the polytunnel without a machete, because there’s a pile of fermenting grass blocking the entrance to the woodland, because it would be one thing trying to do this with full-time staff, because my wrist hurts, because we’re never going to be able to keep on top of it now, because we’ll be leaving the kids with a millstone around their necks. But what I really mean is, what would I possibly do if anything happened to you?

far off twittering—
have the swallows forgotten
where they used to nest?

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About the Author

Amanda Bell is an Irish poet and writer. Her most recent book, Riptide, is a collection of poetry, haibun, and haiku, published by Doire Press (September 2021). She is an assistant editor of The Haibun Journal and judge of the haibun category in the British Haiku Society Awards for 2022. Find more at www.clearasabellwritingservices.ie.

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