Laurie 

Laurie Lee spoke to me today
As I staggered out one early spring morning
Through a past life
To the station. 

There were faces on the platform who I used to know
Who used to know me.
We all looked off in the distance
As the train pulled in.

I could smell the birdsong as I boarded
Something I hadn’t felt for some time.
After one stop I changed trains.

Thinking of a different Saturday morning in Bombay
Moons ago.
A monsoon morning and running across tracks
To change trains for the Malabar coast.

The second train today took me to the sea
Silver today.
Twinkling like a smudged piano.
On the horizon.

A country of clouds had arrived in the sky
With a sun in it.

As I stretched back one early Spring morning
Laurie Lee spoke to me today.

He pops up now and then
After disappearing into those past lives

And bringing me back into the world
Of wonder and woe.

Back to the possible
And probable determined future

The early sunshine of the speckled mind.
Foaming.
Not at the mouth or in the surf.
But foaming freedom.

Back from the dead.