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Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Rosemary Tonks

 

Rosemary Tonks in The Observer (60s)










Badly Chosen Lover


Criminal, you took a great piece of my life, 

And you took it under false pretences, 
That piece of time 
- In the clear muscles of my brain 
I have the lens and jug of it! 
Books, thoughts, meals, days, and houses, 
Half Europe, spent like a coarse banknote, 
You took it — leaving mud and cabbage stumps. 

And, Criminal, I damn you for it (very softly).

My spirit broke her fast on you. And, Turk, 
You fed her with the breath of your neck 
- In my brain's clear retina 
I have the stolen love-behaviour. 
Your heart, greedy and tepid, brothel-meat, 
Gulped it, like a flunkey with erotica. 
And very softly, Criminal, I damn you for it.


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