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Michael Hatwell

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White

(i) Old Putney Bridge
watercolour by A Dawson, 1905, after his sketch of 1882.

This scene might be anywhere that has a white river
broad enough. It might be any rickety white structure
flung across any river. Oh, that white sky,
that cold white water, and such a white bridge!
I'm glad you're moving there, dressed in your old red jacket
though you've clearly got a long white way to go -
the whole up and down of the white length of the bridge -
before you get to the other side, where the brown sound of the fun's depicted

(ii) Primer

White rain in a white square
a white dagger in a white case
a white smile on a white face
a white shadow on a white stair

a white knock on a white door
white fear in a white head
a white struggle on a white bed
a white shape on the white floor

a white organ with a white sound
a white cortege in a white nave
white bones in a white grave
white worms in the white ground


(iii)  Blanche

Nights are white - nuits blanches - when they're sleepless as you always
                                                                                       make them,
               flouncing back to your flat, Blanche - or sharing my bed.

 

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