The poem below was originally published in The Spectator and appears in Matthew Stewart’s second collection, Whatever You Do, Just Don’t, forthcoming from HappenStance Press in November. A launch for the collection will take place at The Devereux pub, Temple, London, from 7pm on Tuesday 7th November; free entry.

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Aveley Lane

Lights turned on but the curtains not yet drawn
in the dusk that lingers over hedges
and scrubland bordering Langhams Rec. Here’s
the overgrown shortcut to the Bourne Stream,
the high wall that protects the vicarage.

Here’s another mother getting supper
in Neil’s kitchen. Here’s another father
parking his car in Adrian’s driveway.
They go about their family routines
as if they’ll never be replaced.