A cold spell

Although spiders’ webs were frozen on trees
Although the leaves had been dipped in ice
Although waters’ constant drip turned into shafts of icicles
She hunkered down on a pavement in Kentish Town
On cardboard ready to sleep under polystyrene

Her name was Lidia or perhaps Maria
Her birthplace Bolivia
Her heart gave out on Tuesday
She lit up when someone spoke to her in Spanish
On the railings people tied bouquets of flowers

By Joy Johnson, Unite political department