Smaller than an opened hand this little book —
war over, paper yet rare and dear.
The important word here, over — turn the page.
war over, paper yet rare and dear.
The important word here, over — turn the page.
But how, when your child learned to walk
hand to stranger's hand in the Piccadilly Tube shelter -
sleep-fractured nights, a small girl's uneven
hand to stranger's hand in the Piccadilly Tube shelter -
sleep-fractured nights, a small girl's uneven
balance and stagger, each step kindness, distraction,
panic, dread. Deaths and Entrances, 1946,
panic, dread. Deaths and Entrances, 1946,
acid pages foxing and foxed, that girl's prayers
by some trick older and her father returned
— no longer those fears he or she or I might be dead.
by some trick older and her father returned
— no longer those fears he or she or I might be dead.
I read in memory of, in praise of.
In thanksgiving for, I keep and read this little book.
In thanksgiving for, I keep and read this little book.
And one night between "Holy Spring"
and "Fern Hill," I place a curved inch
of that girl's cut hair, that I might forget
and "Fern Hill," I place a curved inch
of that girl's cut hair, that I might forget
and then all Gabriel and radiant find
my child of apple towns, not war —
not dark, but windfall light.
my child of apple towns, not war —
not dark, but windfall light.
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