Out of Time

Agios Sostis beach,
Serifos, Cyclades:
dappling shade
under the trees,
turquoise sea,

cooling breeze…

It's lazy afternoon
and cicadas
chichichichichi
incessantly.

But when out on a limb

a new chirruping begins,
not in the rhythm
that's otherwise

relentlessly choral,

you rouse and realise
it's not just you:

breaking the bleak consensus

on the politics of hate,

about the climate,

about the throne,

seemingly hopelessly

raising your voice alone.

Even among insects,
even in paradise,
there's always one,

hidden among the leaves.