I prefer bubble baths
to lockdown bubbles
I prefer wholemeal sourdough
toasted the next day
I prefer butter cold and sliceable
I prefer to stew apples I have grown
I prefer autumn’s gold leaves to summer’s brown grass
I prefer loose leaf tea brewed strong in a small silver pot
I prefer my hair turning white than paying in to disguise
I prefer all my three children at home
even though two have left home already
I prefer walks alone with my thoughts and my dog by the river
I prefer getting puffed walking up hill than doing squats in a gym
I prefer native bird song to weedblowers, chainsaws or diggers
I prefer reading the book before seeing the movie
I prefer having an appetite before I cook dinner
I prefer sleeping long and deep than being disturbed
I prefer dreams vivid enough to remember
even those that frighten
I prefer being kind and receiving kindness back
I prefer referring to sales assistants’ name badges, ‘Thank you, Casey.’
I prefer not to walk under ladders or stand on the crack
I prefer candles when the dusk falls to night
I prefer the definition of winter evenings to the endless southern summer nights
I prefer weeding to mulching
I prefer hanging out the washing to folding it
I prefer galloping my horse uphill than down
I prefer being on the bottom than being on top
I prefer tomato soup fresh from a can
I prefer that we all be good humans
I prefer to hope

(inspired by a poem by Wislawa Szymborska)