Sunny Side Up
The inspiration for this poem came to me one morning when I was walking home after getting some shopping in town. The sun was shining and I felt happy, and Wendy Cope’s poem “The Orange” came into my head (it’s one of my favourite poems!). The rest of my morning continued to be really pleasant, although nothing extraordinary happened. I decided to write a poem in the same style as Wendy Cope to remember that morning; as a reminder to find joy in the everyday.
Sunny Side Up
(after Wendy Cope)
This morning I got up and walked Tom to school
The sun shone and it felt good to stretch my legs
We were on time. I chatted to a mum I want to befriend
Then I went to the shops; picking up milk and eggs
Eliza slept in her pram while I went to Boots
I bought things that have been on my list for ages
When we got home I felt relaxed and joyful
I had time to read my book: just a precious few pages
Later I finished vacuuming and Joe asked
me to play with him; we are in a board game phase
We played the Superhero Lotto game for half an hour.
I feel extraordinarily happy; I often do on ordinary days.
Ellen Clayton