William Oxley
Ladies of the Caledonian Road
Like black taxis they purr
in light-stapled doorways or kinky entries
parked, ladies of the Caledonian Road
cats-eyeing unaccompanied men,
while moonlight washes the stale canal
ghosting warehouses and snub barges.
When we die, when we die
we shall be what - water or sky?
I walk two daughters away from it
the party we have made
annual affair of the word and heart.
Moon celebrates - it does - in whispers
and I think of what one poet said,
‘We should not pour out such unlove.
See, see this wonderful planet
and be grateful for it,
its nature calls for worship -
that way true value lies...’
A leaf turns, wind-led through light
and I know that he was right.
When we die, when we die
we shall be what - water or sky?
Walking back from the railway station
my Caledonian chaperoning over
I am accosted yet again
by another tawdry Venus, but smile
‘No thanks - I’m going to a party.’
‘Another time, perhaps?’ ‘There will never be
another time this eternity’ I said,
speaking the great puzzle of living and dead.
When we die, when we die
we shall be what - water or sky?
Page(s) 57
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