Dear uncle sold her into the purest kind of slavery.
Hood-eyed little middlemen profited from damaged goods
Along the way.
Good angels brought her back to a last nepal summer.
Debased, hollow-faced, a smile might become her.
Now she's cosied up, cosied up and comforted
In the warm flush of september.
Gone before winter.
Wondering as to might-have-beens.
Somebody's daughter in sanctuary, waiting.

Seen through softer cage of kindness, far and further still away,
From time-warp victorian zoos
Where staring ice cream gameboys play.
Big paws, worn claws and swishing tails.
More damaged goods in the market sales.
Too proud for anger, too late for hate: resigned in dignity.
Gone before winter.
Purring might-have-beens.
Somebody's kitten in sanctuary, waiting.

Somebody near you in sanctuary, waiting.

• A Better Moon
• Black & White Television
• Boris Dancing
• Circular Breathing
• Different Germany
• End Game
• Fly by Night
• Looking for Eden
• Made in England
• Montserrat
• Panama Freighter
• Postcard Day
• Sanctuary
• Set-aside
• The Habanero Reel
• The Jasmine Corridor
• The Little Flower Girl
• The Secret Language of Birds
• The Stormont Shuffle
• The Water Carrier
• Toad in The Hole
• Trains
• User-friendly
• Walk Into Light