It is late
and I have a hard day tomorrow
I should be in bed
for I am well tired
but thoughts are bottled up inside me
and I must release them
before I sleep
The cork fits tight
No matter how hard I pull
I cannot release it
Tomorrow is more than a new day
It is a new month
the month of May
But what does that mean to me?
There are few celebrations in the city
one takes notice of
There are too many celebrations
to notice the particular
My two eyes,
my two tired, drooping eyes
have never gazed upon a Maypole
I cannot imagine the revelry
of Richmond in sixteen-sixty
with the Sheriff and the Bishop of Hereford
joining in with the throng —
the May games
the morrice-dancing
the drinking of sack
the Robin Hood play —
The cork still lies in the bottle's neck
I take the bottle
I smash it Crash
The thoughts spill out onto the paper
disappear out of sight
over the table's edge
My mind is emptied
I have lost my thoughts
At least I can go to sleep in peace
© Gerald England
Composed: Glasgow, 14th April 1967
Publication
1990 Spider Eyes (USA)
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