Fragments towards a lament

 for Jessica

(non troppo affectuoso) 

A shroud of dew

A feather chaplet

A cleansing pall of ants

A stone and two true sticks

Absolution in an empty pocket

Garments hang empty and the sky glows

It is not possible to know this

Wings move in unison

Blood thickens in the empty night

When did the birds go?

Fanned by wings of waking fright

courage dismounts the staircase

Here is a wreath of  fresh moult

warmer than a pocket

moist with tender inclination

A feather crown

a lizard awaiting plentitude

a piece of rope

eyes not green

not blue not blind

a rope to bind

silver and cotton

When breath

is slow and life beats

a deep and muffled drum

hearts are cupped

with care for the moment

of syncopation

within the prism time inverts

snake turns into night

all that remains

a silver rope

a feather lizard

time to bind . . . 

A Note on the Poem:
The poet and artist Margaret West was one of three poets chosen to be part of our Counterpoint collaboration with Musica Viva. Sadly, as the project bore on, Margaret's health began to deteriorate, and she passed away just as the project came to its conclusion. The poems that she left for the Counterpoint project were marked as drafts, but were clearly highly refined works. Had she had the chance, perhaps Margaret would have published a different version to this poem. We believe though that the quality of these poems is clear, and were determined that they be published.