Cavafy: finished

IN fear and suspicions, / in mind disturbed and frightened eyes, / as we melt down we design how to act / to avoid the danger / the unavoidable thus horribly threatening us. / Yet we err, it isn’t this on our way; / false were the messages / (we didn’t listen to them or didn’t rightly sense). / A different disaster, never imagined, / abrupt, rapid falls upon us, / and unprepared as we are – now no time left – tears us apart.

Constantine Cavafy 

throwing words about IV

so clear the sky
placed a hand, there,
catching the morning.

Then he burst out laughing
he laughed at this woman’s
washing

heh heh!

earth is filling my mouth.
ea ea eaaaa

throwing words about III

clear weather
shade is red beneath roses

remember to mark these
words upon the sand.

Or…

throwing words about II

Heads lean at every window
See you soon, or again
See you soon

A staircase is spread-out beneath my
steps

revealing shadows and failures

CopyToYourLeft©idiotÂ

throwing words about

and when shadows are silent, whisper.
Ah! how naked you were.

those days left you the ash in your mouth.
No, it was in a dream.

Yes, a dark room it was.
Branches crawled in.

CopyLeft © idiot

Stephen Spender

The Exiles

History has tongues
Has angels has guns
Has saved has praised
Her exiles-in-life death-returned
For whom her printed page
Is heaven on which their names write worlds

from ©Stephen Spender: Collected Poems (1928-1985) Ed. “faber and faber”