Away

summered in Montenegro
or at least did
before hallways
filled with bodies
footage at fingers
decisions to divide
skin born porcupine
two metres wide
and I rested
writing under oozing viburnum
caught bus to Kotor
on fifty cents
a bottle of water
climbed a mountain
white wine yard
carried you along
gave you a glass
caught that boat
full of squid ink
to admire art
on chapel walls
learnt few words
talked to a barman
attended dances, softened
and though I
have seen years
of death laid down
collections of quietened men
defeated by load
there is a woman
under fatal truths
longing for some
simmered, simple joy