She was so adamant about them.
Two guardian angels for everyone, Catholic or not;
feathered protection topping and tailing each bed.
Such faith in the silent, fluttering ones.
Personally, I suspected they might be wearing
Doc Martins under those white night-shirts
and sniggering, not smiling;
making tea,
switching on TV
while she was on the school run. Perhaps
they unhook their wings, remove halos
and hang them on the back of the door?
So, if they’re not really there
why think of them tonight?