Mike Barlow
Choosing the Moment
I’ll choose my moment: sea fog, no sign
of the cockle-gatherer, his old blue van.
I’ll come up on the blind side, slip through
the doorless doorway, light a fire.
It’ll need new lights seaward, a couple of panes
at the back. I’ll work quietly at first, straining
to catch boots on the track or a car door slam.
Clear days I’ll keep an eye on the horizon.
If no one comes possession will settle in me:
the door rehung, slipped shingles fixed,
stack and ridge repointed, traps set,
holes in the skirting plugged.
In the roofspace there could be letters, a bible,
a shepherds manual, cuttings from the life of Elvis.
Each morning a one-legged gull
will tap the window till I give it crusts.
Back end she says she’ll join me.
I’ll wait out lengthening nights, first snow
passing to fall inland. Lamplight will cast
the room’s reflections through the dark.
I’ll look out at myself and there she’ll be,
a smile that might be a blemish in the glass.
Imagine her reaching to touch me, both of us
afraid of moving at the wrong moment.
of the cockle-gatherer, his old blue van.
I’ll come up on the blind side, slip through
the doorless doorway, light a fire.
It’ll need new lights seaward, a couple of panes
at the back. I’ll work quietly at first, straining
to catch boots on the track or a car door slam.
Clear days I’ll keep an eye on the horizon.
If no one comes possession will settle in me:
the door rehung, slipped shingles fixed,
stack and ridge repointed, traps set,
holes in the skirting plugged.
In the roofspace there could be letters, a bible,
a shepherds manual, cuttings from the life of Elvis.
Each morning a one-legged gull
will tap the window till I give it crusts.
Back end she says she’ll join me.
I’ll wait out lengthening nights, first snow
passing to fall inland. Lamplight will cast
the room’s reflections through the dark.
I’ll look out at myself and there she’ll be,
a smile that might be a blemish in the glass.
Imagine her reaching to touch me, both of us
afraid of moving at the wrong moment.
Page(s) 15
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