Thank you SO much. I do appreciate that. L
On 22 October 2014 18:30, Sheila Murphy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Lawrence, this piece reminds me vividly of your musicality in full force,
> fused with statement, delicately specific, moving as in full capacity and
> how received.
>
> Sheila
>
> On Wed, Oct 22, 2014 at 4:17 AM, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > *Elid's Den*
> >
> >
> >
> > There is another hole. That has no name
> >
> > of my coinage. My most secure cavity.
> >
> > It is devoid of widely-known entrance;
> >
> > and invisible, without openings for light:
> >
> > I go hence during day, at gloaming times,
> >
> >
> >
> > to rest myself, in a pent cist of stones,
> >
> > out flat, walled close; under grasses, not in sight;
> >
> > but, now and then, when horror's overly strong
> >
> > for anyone of normal humorous bent,
> >
> > I lie too long, spent, in my sweat, clung to
> >
> >
> >
> > by the covering I'm still bearing from life;
> >
> > what's left of a living corpse trailed by cerements.
> >
> > Dreading discoverers' harshness, I fear me.
> >
> > Should you stumble on the grave, look off;
> >
> > I'd rise up soon, smelling too rank, I know,
> >
> >
> >
> > for measured conversation.
> >
> > Let me wash!
> >
> > I would cleanse my body and my clothing.
> >
> > Forgive the full wetness of my attire
> >
> > if we met at such time. I could explain;
> >
> > and yet's far better that you said no words,
> >
> >
> >
> > offering greatest courtesy, being discreet,
> >
> > chancing consideration for a man
> >
> > who has lost the skill of acting human.
> >
> > I do not wish it to be thus, you know,
> >
> > remembering cold, for which I'm not prepared.
> >
> >
> >
> > [Elidius is one of the names of one who may have lived at some time
> after
> > the Roman period on Scilly, or, as it then seems to have been called,
> > Ennor. There is no evidence of him apart from the earlier name of St
> > Helen's island, where it is said he may have been buried, Insula Sancti
> > Elidii. His feast day is 8th August. Until now he has had no
> hagiographer.
> >
> > This poem, assuming it to be genuine, must be associated with the poem
> > "Elid's cave" which I posted to PoetryEtc 1 October 2014 and perhaps with
> > the poem "I am now almost without energy" posted 10 September]
> >
>
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