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Wednesday 11 June 2014

In Bertrams' Garden - Donald Justice


Jane looks down at her organdy skirt 
As if it somehow were the thing disgraced, 
For being there, on the floor, in the dirt, 
And she catches it up about her waist, 
Smooths it out along one hip, 
And pulls it over the crumpled slip. 

On the porch, green-shuttered, cool, 
Asleep is Bertram that bronze boy, 
Who, having wound her around a spool, 
Sends her spinning like a toy 
Out to the garden, all alone, 
To sit and weep on a bench of stone. 

Soon the purple dark must bruise 
Lily and bleeding-heart and rose, 
And the little cupid lose 
Eyes and ears and chin and nose, 
And Jane lie down with others soon, 
Naked to the naked moon

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