LEVERTOV, Denise

What Wild Dawns There Were

What wild dawns there were

in our first years here

when we would run outdoors naked

to pee in the long grass behind the house

and see over the hills such streamers

such banners of fire and blue (the blue

that is Lilith to full day’s honest Eve) –

What feathers of gold under the morning star

we saw from dazed eyes before

stumbling back to bed chilled with dew

to sleep till the sun was high!

Now if we wake early

we don’t go outdoors – or I don’t –

and you if you do go

rarely call me to see the day break.

I watch the dawn through glass: this year

only cloudless flushes of light, paleness

slowly turning to rose,

and fading subdued.

We have not spoken of these tired

risings of the sun.