the same bench in may

2026 · 05

There's a bench on the path by the water I seem to have adopted without ever deciding to. It's been the same one all the way round the year, and I only really clocked this week that I've watched a whole circle from it.

Last May the tree next to it was all new leaf, that almost embarrassing green. Then summer thickened it up. In autumn I sat there kicking at the leaves like a kid. In the cold months the frost put a white edge along the armrest so I stood instead. Now it's May again and the leaves are back to that same bright silly colour, like nothing happened in between.

The heron was there this morning. Or a heron. Standing in the shallows with its usual air of having somewhere better to be and not going. I've decided it's the same one. No way to know and I don't want to.

Sat there longer than I meant to and got back late.