Stephen Chan
Mother's Last Visit To Son
What Malraux said is true
men who resemble their mothers in youth
resemble their fathers more with age.
The mother gives the bone line
but the muscles of the face
droop with age as if father’s programme
merely awaited its signal.
It has rained without respite for days
women of the sun are far away
I am exiled in Nottingham.
Byron left here for Greece.
Byron, Malraux…who cares for ages past
and the dash for heroics under blue skies?
The mother of the son arrives
will see the father’s imprint
as she kisses son’s face.
And all the weariness of work in this city
will be gathered into lines
above which no sun rises.
It has rained without respite for weeks
in a sense for more than a year.
The son also rises -
playing games of fiction under grey skies
remembering a line of finest bone.
Rises, and she kisses him.
Page(s) 21
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