Cold court

poem

Iris Shaw

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Incant,

Undo

All the things you never did

Curl your tongue up

To keep silence,

Pretend you saw me in the lane

And never knew me

Dream you sit in state

In an empty field

Make winter birds your courtiers

And the air your envoy

Now sing,

You’ll find you can –

It’s old and slow:

Bid me die for you,

But never love you;

Kneel, and rise a king.

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