head anywhere but the sky

Picked up several second-hand poetry, and biography, books this afternoon ...

... thus; here's the title poem from one of the volumes I purchased -  Jo Shapcott's latest collection (still is, I think?), which was published in 2010:


Of Mutability

Too many of the best cells in my body
are itching, feeling jagged, turning raw
in this spring chill. It’s two thousand and four
and I don’t know a soul who doesn’t feel small
among the numbers. Razor small.
 
Look down these days to see your feet
mistrust the pavement and your blood tests
turn the doctor’s expression grave.

Look up to catch eclipses, gold leaf, comets,
angels, chandeliers, out of the corner of your eye,
join them if you like, learn astrophysics, or
learn folksong, human sacrifice, mortality,
flying, fishing, sex without touching much.
Don’t trouble, though, to head anywhere but the sky.

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Jo Shapcott (1953 - )

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