Distant – 6th September 2026

There is a distant rumble

of traffic and people

who speak in a way

I’m unable to hear

They plot their own journey

and have their own worries

but none of it touches

or troubles my ear

I live in a bubble

with two other people

and try to ensure

that nobody comes near

Seeing the amount of tents left behind at the Reading Festival always makes you think. Today’s poem is for all the introverts out there, just keeping themselves to themselves and enjoying the tranquility as best they can. Here’s to a quiet week.

© John Monaghan 2026. All Rights Reserved