Laurie Smith
Not falling
Is it to stand on the lantern of Ely Cathedral
and flinch to see
the flat fen in all directions
tilt akilter and stir?
Is it to walk the roof of the twenty-seventh storey
steadily to the edge and see
the city - grid and sky -
slide sideways and slap
mapwrench on the eye?
Is it to flog to the edge of Beachey -
wind a backdraught at your back, sky and sea
closing horizontal to a flue
toward eternity -
eyeblink slam its shutters,
suck and blur
down distances you eddy,
flutter, shredding...
No, it’s a look, a smile,
a tiny realignment between the two of you,
when certainty opens up a thou’ -
a gravel walk through gardens where
my Tourette gabble turns to good conversation,
my fumbles find an assured touch, a rhythm,
and we saunter to the peace
of sunlit bedroom mornings,
open as eyesight, steady as land...
or else respond with a noncommittal nod
and walk on.
Page(s) 40
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