Healing

High summer
here without a murmur
come to the window
for the glorious brunt of it
that we might bump our heads
and be unhinged in its
warmth
its light
its breath.

It may last just one day
It may last a summer
make drunkards of bumble bees
tilt the world
with the marching of solar-powered
ants
out of their heads
We’ll want that rain shower
let it wash the shelled peas
you left in the colander
on the grass.

High summer
with its abnormal ease
makes sense of a day bed
makes indoor matinees a pleasure
I would normally drink red
not you
Take my hand
call this a tonic, you and I
we’ll stick our heads out
we’ll drink it all
we’ll leave nothing.

**

Economic Consequences

Late last night
I filled the abandoned car showrooms
with three thousand rabbits.

Early next morning
there was a lot of ear and nose twitching
to be observed through the sloping
plate glass windows,
and standing on hind paws,
and random rabbit hopping.

But they, too, have gone,
and they’re not coming back.

**

Mechanised Favour

Fifty-five years of age
And I see him transporting
a roll of carpet
on his scrambler,
gaining nothing on
a pale crescent moon
in a duck egg blue sky.
He’s not in a position
to wave

Some people never

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Philip Davison has published nine novels, including The Book-Thief’s Heartbeat (Co-Op), McKenzie’s Friend (Cape), The Long Suit(Cape), Eureka Dunes (Liberties Press), and Quiet City (Liberties Press). He writes radio drama. His stage play, The Invisible Mending Company, was performed at the Abbey Theatre. He has co-wrote Learning Gravity (BBC Storyville), a documentary film on poet and undertaker, Thomas Lynch. He is a member of Aosdána.