My writing currently is inspired by my natural surroundings and the culture and language in which I am immersed, seeing things often through or alongside the eyes of my ever observant five year old son.

I am British, but now live in a small farming village called ‘Beniarbeig’ in Valencian Country, where my husband is from, and five year old son was born.

The Riu Girona runs through our village and although sometimes dry, often is in a state of flood or flow and brimming with life. This poem is a hymn to our village, the animals and people we live amongst and the curiosity I feel to know and understand this place that is now my home.

I am by nature a bit of an outsider or observer; we see so much from our flat, the terrace that looks out over the village, the river and to the mountains and interior of La Marina Alta.

The wild boar family we saw one evening, and the family who live in a house opposite and whom I say hello to every morning, inspired this poem. There is much beauty as well as hardship to life here, for so many people.

This poem aims to capture that duality.

Post note: I am also dedicating the poem to my neighbour, Mari, the little old lady over the road who very sadly died recently. May she rest in peace