Grateful for Clive James

 Grateful for Clive James 

Immersed in Hughes and clever Empson 

in sunlight with Mac Neice, glad to have sat under thunder

and rain with them all 

enthralled by the tigred pike 

spiked on his aged grin

women alas too few

the Mrs Hughes and Browning 

and Dickinson, of course, not drowning. 

But I have James to hold my hand 

to buoy me in deep water 

to bid me Leap! And float on thermals 

for such delight 

in depths and heights 

this treasury collected

recollected, got by heart 

since Aussie schoolboy years, note

by heart and not by rote

and bless him for his labours

in his last and dying days 

still his wit and warmth and wisdom 

all-pervading, perfect legacy. 

22nd April 2021 Hounoux after reading Clive James’  ‘ The Fire of Joy’ 

After Louis MacNeice (2) The Earth Compels

 After MacNeice ‘ The Earth Compels’ 

The sunlight on the garden slants at dip of day 

in shafts oblique, long and low, the glow before dusk

loveliest of light mellow filtered

it blurs and blends, this landscape now Van Gogh or Monet

unsharpened, indistinct 

pink in the palette warm on the folds and fields 

as cools the air, pools

single spotlight bright upon yellow. 

We cannot cage the minute within its globe of gold 

we shall grow cold 

seduced by the glow of twilight 

at blessed dip of day. 

16th April 2021 Hounoux. 

After Louis MacNeice ‘ The Sunshine on the Garden’

After Louis MacNeice ‘ The Sunshine on the garden’ 

Anemones, ranunculus 

one small cyclamen low to the ground 

the remnants ragged of a Christmas rose 

three frail daffodils waving, tête à tête perhaps.  

All along the margin where the cypress dominates 

there’s a scattering of precious stones embellishing the hem

richest of robes, glinting in the sun. 

16th April 2021 Hounoux 

Summer’s swallows

 Summer’s swallows 

They’re here he told us, glee

warming his voice, good news! 

And so it was, for all the way from Africa 

lured by the light, the lengthening of days 

harbingers in flight, flocks 

( one insufficient surely for a summer sign) 

but here now in numbers, tail feathers streaming, 

swoop and sweep, faithfully returned 

still paired, programmed to build and nest and nurture 

clutch of young, those gaping beaks imperative

chirp and cheep

the busy barns of Léran, broods, breeding

birth, rebirth. 

No border no boundary, flights unrestricted 

only us earthbound, cribbed, confined 

but eyes ever upwards, what glee and gladness 

good news indeed! 

The martins, saw-wings, hirondelles 

summer’s swallows safe, returned. 

4th April 2021 Hounoux for John, who told us.