Leaving the city



When the sun is gold on the pavement

and clouds are marble Neptunes shining

and fish tailed seagulls

balance cuticular wings on the wind


Then shall we seek to change

- to take life into our own hands

and watch the sand slip between our fingers

arising the taste of dust


You can see how the chimneys are demobilized

leaning emptily towards the sun

baking on the outside

as platinum roof lichens flake into gutters


Rose petals splay open in gardens

you extend towards them serpentine

you say, ‘I shall smell your sweet apples’

but they are scentless - they are too well bred


Shocking the convalescent’s stupor, revealing the wound

the beech tree that was blood red

dashed on sharp May skies

is clotting and drying to blackness


High summer and the lane is deep

in layers, waterfalls of green scales

rising and falling in the parchment air

gasping like gills for water


The migrating sea will not lie still

each peremptory ripple jostles for its place

and we fear to leave the land

that is rooted and keeps the dents of footsteps in its side


So there is nothing else but to sing in the sea spray

a high note, spit shock, white slap, knife cold

Oh! How the skin recoils and the heart leaps

and the sun hero brings the real rose