The Mag - Petergate

Greetings! 

THE MAG

"The trick of finding what you didn't lose
(existing's tricky: but to live's a gift)
the teachable imposture of always
arriving at the place you never left."
E.E. Cummings

Petergate, with a view of York Minister, York, UK photo by Tess Kincaid


After Dusk Tour

Petergate,
this medieval walled city
 adopts a man with walking stick and woolen cape,
he waits by a pub, 
as if to negotiate
his next retreat?

If I were to translate
he's grinning-
knowing, that all those
unknown, perfect faces peering
from behind hard-polished windows
all imagine he'll
swoop upon them like an eagle
at the very stroke of midnight
to begin their tour tonight.

They have no idea he waits by the pub,
so they wait for his swoop.
Shall I tell them now?

Before their pretty little faces peering
all aglow by electric light,
turn sad waiting and waiting-
watching the yet stiff moon 
slowly rising,
as if, it too, were in wait as well-
just above the tallest roof
still rising high
like a lost balloon
floating over Petergate.