Yellow Balloon

On Friday the sun filled

a yellow balloon you were holding

till it glowed like a beacon.

I wanted to take a photo so you

walked ahead

and turned—

Mum, are you finished yet?

Then later when you raced on

you found you could see

the moon hung high in

a daylight sky.

You made me stop and sit.

You would have liked a telescope,

I said let's make a wish.

You don't get perfect often.

Life is loud and fast and complicated.

I wish you'll always make me stop.

And see. And listen.

Vanessa Napolitano

Vanessa is a northern writer who is interested in place, nature, family and folklore. Her recent work can be found in the Black Cat Poetry press anthology 'Trees, Seas and Attitudes', in volume 2 of Bent Key's 'Ey Up' anthology and online at Poetry Wales. She was nominated for a Pushcart prize in 2023 and her first collection is due out this year.