The field is longer than you expect it to be.

The dog can be free there, remembering

A time before leashes.

A place to stretch yourself and shout

And be assured nobody will hear. Sounds

on the edge of hearing, buzzing

From machinery and insects

And the distant rumble of the road.

The noise sits on top of the quiet

Emphasising it, dark behind light.

You didn’t expect to feel sudden joy here

But it came anyway

From being alone in empty space

With a happy dog.

From spring sunshine on bare arms.

From the absence of things

And the certainty of returning to them.