PHIL HAWTIN

★ ★ ★ ★

POETRY

Mixing Memory With Desire

Silves Portugal – River Arade

And there comes a time
when tide has been called away,
when shallow transparency runs softly
and small fish hide—

then pebbles become eyes…
striations on the surface of the water are fins, or lips…

mounds swell over
the edge of sunlit water,
ripple reflections give the impression of movement…

waterweed becomes bush
curls flowing in stasis
between the flanks
of the deepest part.

The gaze of waiting heron and stork
will focus longingly
into these cool mazy shallows
where anticipation, exultation, memories, lie.

Head Carved by a Blind Man – in Wood

Object in Wisbech Museum – August 2016

Did the carver explore his model’s face
to capture it, as my fingers followed
the fine grain of you, tracing
the silken flow and curve?

Did he shape the sharp thorn-crown
stems twisted in a Celtic knot
to symbolise the ragged pain
in jagged pasts – and present?

And consider the meanings we assign
to each expression of love
we receive and design? Then
caressing roughness away

with natural unctions
plunge deep into the body
to convey first – passion
and after – serenity?

When we seek to bring to fruit
our imaginations of ecstasy
is it another’s visions that suit
or premonitions of destiny?

Did he toil in the dark
as I did to portray my fascination?
And we’ll celebrate in flesh, not oak,
a work of love made blind.