When lovers lie
In summer grass
And watch the cloud ships
As they pass,
Love is a blend
Of pain and bliss …
Somewhere a shadow,
Dark and tall,
Across the heart-beat
Seems to fall
Denying joy …
This thing will go,
It will not stay
When summer goes
And you're away …
So runs the thread of darkling song,
And yet - within each other's eyes
They drown this knowledge; and disguise
The shadowy blight.
So … each to each they turn and say
"We have each other anyway!"
Portrait of Father
He died, much as he lived,
Not making any fuss
About it. Accepting all we did
Quietly, and with a touch; of humour,
As if to say, "Beloveds, if this helps you,
But I go … anyway!"
Withdrawn, perceptibly withdrawn,
He waged his little struggle,
Agreeable to all the final desperate tries
Science affords. He drifted out
Farther away. You couldn't even reach him
With your hand, finally.
He'd made his peace with Death.
Just for a second, up from the
Sargasso Sea of kindly opiates
He came … living and sweet and somehow reassuring,
To name you, with his final stumbling breath!
Small Christmas Tree (For F. G.)
Stand very straight, small Christmas tree!
Put on your tallest dignity,
Wear your tinsel bright and bravely,
Carry your candles like holy things.
In the heart of a child you represent
Beauty and light and sacrament;
Your topmost star to him outshines the sun,
Your branches every one
Are precious.
Stand very straight, small Christmas tree!
You were chosen to grace a feast,
You were chosen to share this day.
Holly for merriment,
Holly for joy.
And you to bring to a little boy
Fabulous dreams.
Stand very straight, small Christmas tree!
Looking with love on my small son's face,
Sweet in your light,
I, this night, hear carols.
Know for certain that carols ring,
Know for certain that angels sing;
Stand very straight, small Christmas tree!