THIS A BLOG POST OF INSPIRATION

Listening to spectator online,a century 

of Robert lowell, Jonathan Raben spoke 

Of receiving a post card from Robert Lowell, 

Thinking this a prank by his friend Ian-

Hamilton, all this reminded me of a poem 

I wrote twenty years ago about Robert-

NUCELLA

Imperfection is the language of art

                                                   Robert Lowell

I was reading your biography by Ian Hamilton, 

during the 15th chapter I discarded the bookmark

A post card I bought in Galway, the title 

was happy Dogwelk ( Nucella).

A finger the pale shade of marine

Life, blending with starfish, seaweed

Pointing to the seabed. 

Now I know where I stand in your intricate 

hard water.

I sit here at the dining-room table, filled

With whiskey, beer and poetry.

I look up into a mirror that shows

My way upstairs into the first day of March.

Cal's birthdate and mine. If I dare move

From this spot and chance my way into

The reflection of that first day, then 

only then will I descend the stair-

Well of my youth.

'Dolphin-

My eyes have seen what my hand did'.

I wish I had known you,

Even to say hello in the street.

To know why I cry on your words

To know why I cry. Full stop.