To Wilfred Owen

To Wilfred Owenon the centenary of his death Courage was mine, and I had mystery,Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery. An ordinary man, you spoke of deathoutright. For years you’d lazed along the path,luxurious, dense, of youthdom. It was crossedby a dark angel. Not...

Dancer

Dancerfor S.I do not walk the grey road of the earth.Rather I take a dance-step to the stars.Oh in this prison-yard, behind these bars –where shall I find a man to know my...

Aubade

AubadeI shall remember the pleasure of walking together.A wild vociferous symphony of leavesrose for us, and filled the air for us,as we entered the hanging garden of the Common.Brute age was there in an old tree split by lightning,that still maintained its vigour...

Irena Sendler

Irena Sendler from an Economist obituary You are the lady within. I know you more deeply than I could ever show you, had we once met. A snarl of tenderness raked the sky of the Nazi wilderness . . . tore at the hearts of the Warsaw Resistance, till there were fewer to...

To Dave, 50

To Dave, 50Recently you have taken to wild swimming.In a medley of out-of-the-way river stretchesyou pierce a film, re-enter a charged currentthat slaps away a shroud of words. What freshnessis on that heron, in that willow. For at least46 years you have argued with...