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

(for Miklόs Radnόti)*

If I placed my faith in miracles
        thinking there was an angel walking beside me,
do not judge me for my thoughts were only of you -
        I cannot die, and cannot live, without you.
I saw the blue of your eyes in the sky
        shining like the angel’s sword protecting me
as I fell, a ghost in the glow of dawn.
But I was lifted by invisible wings
        and marched on ignoring the ditch’s embrace.

As long as I knew my way back to you,
        I was prepared to walk on live coals,
bear witness to the barbarism of human beings
        for man is the lowest of all the animals -
setting houses, fields and factories on fire,
        streets overrun with burning people, men twisted,
then like a snapped string they sprang up again, dead:
        twitching like a broken twig in the ditch.
Women screamed as children were dashed
        against walls: What is the purpose of this, Lord?
I asked. I survived, fixing my thoughts on you.
You were the constant in this churning, smoking mess.

I can only leave you my anger, my powerlessness
        at finding my world in ruins, left with neither
faith nor hope, compassion nor redemption;
        for I know nothing can save me now...

If I placed my faith in miracles
        thinking that there was an angel walking beside me,
judge me only by my thoughts of you in a world rebuilt
         where my song will live and be heard...
I cannot die, and cannot live, without this thought.