" Sleeping with the Planets "
'For Sara'
I
I sleep like this.
With the curtains open, window
pushed wide and net dancing, I see
tip feathers of the fur tree
sway far above roots, stone,
myself as I fall asleep.
Every night I wake the same.
Centre of hours between
sundown and dawn,
when my room is still and sky
is open with darkness, I see
the ghost of planets
painted on the atmosphere.
However far this burn travels
along my wrist and arm - inside
the tired curve of these shoulders
and throat, I wont let go -
not until Lily forgives
my kiss upon her forehead
and can bear this heavy load.
II
We walked into the cold building together.
Pictures in stained-glass loomed over us.
Blood, torture, a mother in blue linen
lit by white candles flickered from the altar.
The ceiling, arced above our heads, created echoes
as we sat down. The organ droned from the throat
of its flutes as we suffocated in the overfill
of air and tangled words that we wouldn't hear.
We went with four men leading, wanted their slow feet
to hurry through the grounds with its barricade
of knotted yews and the interruption of stones
that trespassed the coppice and obscured our eyes.
When we reached the unearthed hollow I knew
I was alone- goodbyes already rested in the craw
of ravens erratic in the branches. As the grave
stayed empty and earth returned, I travelled home.
© 2005 E V Brooks (lia)
|
|
