James Aitchinson
Wall
The children come and go; they always knew
the wall keeps nothing out or in or up.
I built it as a way of getting through
a problem and around an awkward gap.
After the beech hedge and the lattice fence,
I gave demolished stone another chance.
And though it wasn’t meant to keep things out,
it takes the rough edge off the north-west gales;
or keep things in, it gathers southern light
round quince, anemones and daffodils.
It stands, and stands of course for more, some kind
of boundary or corner in my mind.
I knew it would. Perhaps I should have known
what wall does best is celebrate its stone.
Page(s) 22
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