Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

Poetry Library Southbank Centre - The Poetry Library housing the Arts Council Collection at Southbank Centre

« Previous item
Contents of this issue
Next item »

Julia M Wixler

print this page

Opening

Throughout the night, dogs warn
of approaching storms,
but we are deaf to the incoming weather -
lay naked on the outside of the covers
caresses stuck to our skin, limbs
pressed together like wet kisses.

These first nights are the longest
when the words won’t form;
silence beads in the humidity,
lines slip and break before they bond.
Your lighter snaps, snatches
at a spark that ignites then dies.

When the fractious air finally cracks
and the rains fall, we lay listening
to the pseudo-speech chattering
across the slates, syllables
rushing down the roofs; enticing
our voices from our lips.

Waking in the cool of morning
our bodies have learnt the curves of sleep
and with our words freed
from the cacophony of dreams,
we begin again, opening
like leaves under the early sun.
.

Page(s) 28

Back to top