SAINT JULIAN PRESS

KEVIN MCGRATH ~ POET

 

U T O P I A

 

S T E L L A

 

T onight as a dead wind blows

And the dark lakes crack and

The unseen black river stiffens

I wish that you were in my arms

I wish that you came to my bed

And with kindness offered

Your admiration and with you

Without conscience I slept

 

If I called you here now

Would you approach and lightly

We could be perfectly without

Pretence or any disturbance

 

If you were in my arms now

Our understanding of the world

Might vanish in mutual symmetry

Leaving us simply believing

 

Yet the adverse wind blows

These slow hours are insufficient

For you sleep far away content

Unaware of how life could rest

 

Bare trees creak and scrape

No one bird nor small animal

Survives the absolute cold

Only love continues burning

 

So I summon you now

Pretending to say your name

When this emptiness resounds

Making quietness so impersonal

 

For your heart is not beneath

My warm hand and no one

Is afoot on earth tonight

Except for solitary darkness