Wolf Tongue by Barry MacSweeney

Author:Barry MacSweeney [Barry MacSweeney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781780370026
Publisher: Bloodaxe Books
Published: 2013-11-09T05:00:00+00:00

Pearl’s Poem Of Joy And Treasure

Spout, pout, spout. Put my spittle all about.

Bare feet pressing down wet upon the glamorous

deciduous rugs of gold. Otherwise

needles and cones, sheep bones, crisps

and ox-cheek for tea.

Dark despair around benights me.

Above the burn I listen for the turn

of the water over tumblestones,

wag my tongue like a wand

in the law wind. Fierce light

invades my eyes and shut face, closed for the night.

Unable to sleep, despite the hardness of the day,

I cluck and purr.

Why am I ashamed of my permanent silence?

In the brilliant heather, shin deep, I am

a good lass, purring and foaming, friend of green breasted

plover, keen listener to the wind in the wires; all

the bees and beasts understand

my milky fingers and palms.

I whet my whistle in the same pools –

at one with the world.

This white water upland empire, hidden

moss grows in the cracks.

I felt my way there when climbing

the bank, press my head there, soft emerald cushions,

when summer sleep takes on.

The wind runs and roars from the west, from the ferry landings

of Ireland; I listen for the freshly falling tumblestones,

long and long until tears almost drown me

for consonants and vowels, sentences of good measure,

for an understanding of the very word syntax, brought

to my cavernous mouth, practising the words Appleby, Penrith, Shap.

Rosehip plucker, mitts needing repair,

here mam, on the sideboard, longing

for the words capital letter, Ordnance Survey map, to

read the true height of the law, emphasise my longing.

Twine my tongue and ease its itch.

Make the sky so borage blue.

Let the argent stars shine upon my upturned smiling face

and furnish me with hope.

I need all the love I can hold.

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