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

I.
The invention of concrete was I imagine
greeted with dismay by slaves;
the advance of their master’s industry
towards a greater state – indentured,
they found new formulas simply created
structures more quickly than before.

We have seen it grow around us,
raised alongside it; our histories newly shaped,
angles accommodated, more moulded
now by metal beams and heavy blocks.
The invention of slaves was I imagine
greeted with satisfaction by masters of industry.

They found structures created more quickly
than before and towards a greater state
we may all be indentured – newly shaped,
more moulded, new formulas simply created;
less than science to tell us what to buy
and less than religion to make us believe.


II.
At Ephesus – Greek, Roman and Turkish ruin
– people wait for transport to a house
where the virgin slept. Scurrying along,
the small French nuns passed Slavic tourists
no-one understands.We have learnt to speak
fractions of each other’s language.

These other sounds and eastern rites,
the full four pointed blessing and meaningful
genuflection – these are the serious Christians.
I imagine having seen the house of Mary,
the small French nuns can talk about
the Russian woman exchanging dollars for holy water

while they crush breadcrumbs to feed the birds
in a garden outside Marseilles. Streets filled
with Baltic girls walking against the walls.
A sort of integration – kief smoke rolling
through the rooms with boarded windows
and the Slavic tourists no-one understands.


III.
Soon we have drifted past Piraeus
and past the port of Ostia.
We have sat without a sound
behind the walls of the basilica
and contemplated our next move.

From concrete steps we jump
out to surf the ether past Pantheon and palazzo;
these paving slabs,
these arches,
these remnants of communication

left behind us.
Faint footprints drying out in the sun.

And though the revolutions that follow us
are far from perfect, strained more
than formed by human relations,
wonder without these buildings –
these well sprung structures
and concentrations
– would we cable our thoughts
across the sky,

understand there are languages
we do not know.