weeding alongside beans in the same rush as them
6 a.m. scrabbling at the earth
beans synchronised in rows
soft fanatical irresponsible beans
behind my back
breaking out of their mass grave
at first, just a rolled up flag
then a bayonet a pair of gloved hands
then a shocked corpse hurrying up in prayer
and then another
and then (as if a lock had gone and the Spring had broken loose)
Already a subscriber? Log in
Subscribe for just $2 a week
Try a month of The Spectator Australia absolutely free and without commitment. Not only that but – if you choose to continue – you’ll pay just $2 a week for your first year.
- Unlimited access to spectator.com.au and app
- The weekly edition on the Spectator Australia app
- Spectator podcasts and newsletters
- Full access to spectator.co.uk
Or
Unlock this article
Alice Oswald’s poetry has won three Forward prizes and a T.S. Eliot prize; her most recent collection is Memorial.
You might disagree with half of it, but you’ll enjoy reading all of it. Try your first month for free, then just $2 a week for the remainder of your first year.
Comments
Don't miss out
Join the conversation with other Spectator Australia readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.
SUBSCRIBEAlready a subscriber? Log in