Colin Simms
(Untitled)
Uncertain season; when the light
goes out a bit on reason, habit
accustomed after a long summer,
and we had not expected marten
(coming despite accident: the stag
disturbed by us, his rutting dander
up) an opportunity to watch the otter
Stuffing the senses full, hour
neither night nor day / ours
lightening, yet threat of heavy grey
rain easing-off now, and your pain …
“One more hour only” I promise
nothing more can be done for you anyway
antler-gored, ‘til the ambulance gets here
Shuffle-tread in bilberry
its tussocks up to his belly
not grazing but getting stained
both sides of the mouth, and dripping
breastplate’s cream upward extensions
brushes-up only ripe drupes;
tongue like anteater’s - as alert
Bilberry-eyes in the working-head
sensuous things other and since
constant - on our consciousness;
courtyard dog fox scours Greystead
gravel for bits we’ve dropped, mince
and pastry from Walton’s plate-pies,
apple-and-fruit Arnup-tarts’ crumbs
Your leg is numb yet I can get
your weight onto mine, the blood
is staunched, you are warm in my arms
and buoyed-up by what we’ve been shown
don’t ever blame nature but ourselves
for clumsiness, forgetting integrity
Page(s) 169
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