28 September 2004

starting again

the gods
disappear into the woodwork
become gradient dancers on tea-stained
batik

and in the gamelan night
on the edge of sleep
a phantom drummer
ticks

a sonnet a minute through windows into the starry wood away

on the edge of village smoke
children
eat rice in their dreams while

Mr Smiley
bounces a ball
in a marble
hall

once only only tonight not forever