11 NOVEMBER 1995, Page 46

All the Happiness Ahead

Reclining in our armchairs, overfed, we learn of floods and earthquakes, millions dead, switch to a film or football match instead.

In his basket, bought from Habitat, sleeps our pampered, black, half-Burmese cat curled up in satisfaction, sleek and fat.

Our suppers cleared away, we lie in bed, snug beneath the duvet's feathered spread, and dream of all the happiness ahead: tomorrow's excess of comfort, thick-sliced toast, lashings of marmalade, and lots of post, plans for an outing, possibly to the coast.

Though miles beyond our curtains crowds are killed and millions die on soil that lies unfilled, fruit falls upon the sward and we are filled.

Michael Cullup