Читать книгу Collected Love Poems - Brian Patten - Страница 9

Coming back one evening through deserted fields

when the birds, drowsy with sleep,

have all but forgotten you,

you stop, and for one moment jerk alive.

Something has passed through you

that alters and enlightens: O

realization of what has gone and was real.

A bleak and uncoded message whispers

down all the nerves:

‘You cared for her! For love you cared!’

Something has passed a finger through

all your abstract reasoning.

From love you sheltered outside of love but still

the human bit leaked in,

stunned and off-balanced you.

Unprepared, struck so suddenly by another’s identity,

how can you hold on to any revelation?

You have moved too carefully through your life.

Always the light within you is hooded by

your own protecting fingers!