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

Poetry Library Southbank Centre - The Poetry Library housing the Arts Council Collection at Southbank Centre

« Previous item
Contents of this issue
Next item »

Suzanne Batty

print this page

This Way

(for JW)

I had been walking lonely by the river
the river going forwards, the river doing well,
an extravagance of willows flowing one way,
then the other, my killing shoes glued to a yellow
English meadow, all the wind, machines and bells,
passing far away and high,

when all I wanted from you my friend, was to be woken
by you early, in our studious hotel, swimming up
amongst our dream ropes to the double-edged flowers.
And watch, with you, a human’s careful fight
or dance, outside, flowing this way, then the other,
amongst the stationary cars.

So meet me later, by the ornamental vegetables,
let go of that unfathomable scream, that purple sprout
wedged in your throat, I’ll join you questioning
the cabbages, beneath their artful hazel cages,
we’ll just go this way, then the other,
in the garden, still and growing.
 

Page(s) 49

Back to top