in Town Hall Square
they are putting
the finishing touches to
the Christmas illuminations

nothing high tech here
some brightly painted plywood
buildings figures animals
some of which move a little
coloured light bulbs

as night falls
across Christmas time
young children are brought here by
parents grandparents carers
just as years ago we brought our two

dragged along
older siblings snigger
as the filament lamp lit scenes
work their magic on
wide eyed toddlers

one star brighter
the first shepherd’s head
glued back on

Paul Conneally
Leicester 2013