Slippage

Internet connection problems tonight.

 And now it's late.

This afternoon I sit in old Ikea chair

covered in soft blanket

sun slanting onto my shoulder 

and warming the sore side of my face.

Ninety minutes in the dentist's chair -

drilling,

water suction pipes,

rubber dam,

amalgam chipped away,

chemical flavour plasticine mould

pressed against gums

temporary filling

and bridge to be fitted.

 Now lopsided lips

only soup sipped 

hours ago.

Laptop open -

 deleting emails from years ago

 2013

2014

to make space,

keeping a few from Robin

with his lines of kisses

and exclamation marks

 at the end of every message.

And still the flashing words appear

on the top right of my screen

"Your disc is nearly full."

 I'm waiting for architect's phone call.

When it comes  this evening

we re-design 

some of the old design - 

move doors

and windows

keep walls.

But there is slippage - 

time has melted away

from winter 

to spring 

and summer will be over,

autumn too late

to start knocking down,

digging foundations.

Builders' calendars

already full.

Aim for next spring 

he says.

A whole year 

of moments 

to live

now 

and now

and now.

Not the  ones 'done and dusted by Christmas'

that I'd hoped for.