deepundergroundpoetry.com

The Chapman

  
Chapman. Itinerant salesman related to German Kaufmann  
  
  
  
I leaned the gate  between
the wood and pasture,  
more to think than rest.  
Slow clouds, heavy and grey  
made their journey westward  
a bad sign, cold tomorrow  
you can bet your gloves on that,  
four layers today, five tomorrow!  
Every day, just me and Jack,  
know each stick and rabbit hole;  
miles from anywhere and mobiles.  
Love the pines searching the sky  
vaults random laid in tumult,  
pagan; raw; Druid-land.  
There is a corner hid away  
deep in yew and holly  
stitched with old-man's beard,  
a lady-chapel with no candles,  
dark-deep-secret, where I dare not.  
I hear rumours from the starlings  
rituals to tempt and thrill;  
foolish to believe,  
but the wise old owl rarely comes  
and never says a word. . . . . .  
and he's been here for years;  
that's enough for me.  
  
Whom to ask as I lean the gate  
leaning by the wood and pasture?  
I must into the chapel, subdue my fear  
seek her face but once,  
once will be enough, just once  
I've heard her siren song  
a tongue I do not know, ancient,  
ancient from by-ways,lanes  
where once the chapman  and his horse  
shared hay and rabbit and small beer  
beneath the milky way  bright and clear.  
My fear subdued I shall know a truth  
which will be her choice.  
There are many truths to learn,  
should I accept her word, her wisdom  
leave the yew and holly . . . .  
the sadness of the truth she tells?  
I cannot leave the world,  
(my purse too filled with gold)  
to join the chapman and his horse  
but sit on the leaning gate  
ears closed to siren calls.

 
Written by Kexby (john rickell)
Published
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