Lesley Saunders
The President’s Apples
Braddick’s Nonpareil: ‘…very strong sharp flavour but underlying sweetness too – tastes like sour honey’ www.orangepippin.com
Through an unguarded gate on alumnae days
the guide will show you into the apple-grove
to watch as the world turns to a mash of gold,
a hundred codling suns burning themselves out
in the wet-mouthed grass. Years ago a girl ran past
like a river of fire between the cider-trees, leaving
her bridegrooms trashed on the lawn. They sprawl
face down, choking in the shock-wave of losing
the race to a woman they should easily have taken.
She’s oblivious, till the cox, winesap, fillbasket are flung
in her path. Then she sags with love’s sudden gravity,
her own thoughts outpace her, the penalty is always
a death. We rattle the trees, stuff our carrier-bags
heavy as bellies. Windfalls, wasp-food. Nonpareils.
Page(s) 61
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