I wrote this poem while I was thinking of my father and his love for birds.

A shared hobby, he and I would often sit quietly, just watching.

It’s one of my favourites…perhaps you’ll see why.

Distracted, Kate Taviner

I saw two Collared Doves today,
a reminder true of you. 

'til the day you died you taught me
to look beyond the norm, and
with your voice in my ear
I stopped, I watched.

And those two birds oblivious,
unfazed by my watchful eye.
were clearly happy
just doing what birds do.

They weren't thinking about bills
about work
about death...
and at that moment
Nor was I

Distracted is included in my book, The Shape of Loss available now.