How he was king
of these rocks
& gorse. Oh
he told me.
his kingdom. She
was a swallow
bringing one strand
of her swallow’s hair.
His woman, part
of his stoney possessions,
ah but love
set her dancing.
And the rest: how
she sneaked off
to find me
out by the elder tree,
how again & again
in the two-backed
beast dance we went
crazy & careless,
were found, hounded,
beaten & branded.
Ah well shrug the citizens –
lies, guilt & old grief,
betrayal & such,
an old song the wanderer
sings for his bread
& each time changes
he sings it. Love love
wherever love is
changing its sheets
come find me.