AFTER ARIADNE
Love is a climate, not an episode. Violet Trefusis
I
‘the romantz’ he says ‘wears off’
who had a girl who looked like
Sarah Brightman but could she sing
II
I am afraid I duck behind it
mining laughter & the zing goes
& comes uncertain sometimes
your face is so thin & askew
I am offended & not entirely
beautiful also
III
our shoulders
I do see to knock & bend towards
from a full height I shall lift
up my mouth a cricket twists
the corners of the evening tight
I have cut off all my hair
IV
I shall cover my tracks
with snowy lies & the bracken
of evasion sad of being forced
to face unfriendly & a bit silly
where before was frothy
a loss of power
V
it poured in the night & the garden
grateful Violet Trefusis is sharp
as tin & privileged it is necessary
to suffer even a little wry & unrequited
do you understand do I
that I am very very angry & why
VI
calmer today & in my own skin
I would like to walk beside you
unsubdued & talk & talk mouth
open like a paper bag I think
I may yet need to be punished
From of Elephants etc. Wellington: Untold Books, 1990
© Bernadette Hall
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