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

                               (After lain Sinclair’s Landor's Tower) 

Gwain arrives Thursday night as usual
with Boston Ale and a small triangular packet
We chat — as usual — round the fire
Smoke  Drink  Give delayed 60th birthday pres
A new Italian coffee pot
Next morning it’s a Full English
then off to Glynmercher
via Tesco’s for rice & wine & coffee
& the Ty Nant under Garth Wood —
a Cardiff power spot —
for 2 pts of Rev. James

It’s bright but cold
& a slow journey
through roadworks at Mountain Ash
Usual parking spots closed
for foot & mouth
so we tuck the car in on the verge
by a small hawthorn bush
walk through the field gate
& spray shoes with disinfectant

At the cottage Gwain lights the fire
then we pull the woodboxes out the way
& push the sofa back
The surface of the wooden chest
is cleared of papers & typewriter
& the chest is positioned
under the light
Filo turns off the wall switch
& opens the fusebox
We debate which is the right fuse
& bet on the white spotted one
which proves to be correct
since the study light doesn’t come on either
when power’s switched back on
Switch it off again
Gwain aims the torch

Jean climbs on the chest & cuts
the old shade free —
square wire frame with coloured wool round it
from hippy days of early ‘70’s
smothered in dusty cobwebs

Remove light bulb
The only problem is the collar
round the fitting, which falls apart
with the removal of the bulb
Get new fitting purchased by Gwain
in Swansea market — he was assured
this was just what was needed —
& screw onto original fitting
having first put new charity shop
pleated plastic shade on upside down
to form an uplight
Replace bulb
Replace fuse
Turn power on
Turn wall switch on
Light works
Bright beam directed upwards
by umbelliferous new shade
Cobwebs further up on the ceiling fitting
dance with joy
Put cover back on fuse box
Shake hands all round
Replace furniture
Total running time two minutes
thirty five seconds for
entire operation
Nobody died
Make coffee in new coffee pot
Sit by fire under new light
and drink it