Bitter Heart

Bitter Heart

That night, time had a bitter little heart

You against the cool river bank me in the grass 
rustling round you


You caught a koura in your hands it warmed and crinkled 
a fresh lantern lighting up the valleys of water

I caught your crying legs and cradled you vastly

the night was giving you a hard time with its big arm its 
little arm

*

We walked back to the house and your room was dense with field ghosts

last winters mice ricketed in soft crooks of skin and

spring lamb suckled nervously at finger tips

a swarm of bees burned darkly beneath the blanket

*

Outside the red-eared moon curled again and bit its own

thin tail, dreamed of small edible things like us.

*

Later the river carried the koura downstream to glow amongst 
the slick pool of eels while 


we worked hard to resuscitate the day but

Time has a bitter little heart.