Mr Polar Bear (after Louis Macneice)
April 18, 2009
I sit beside you in our usual nook
I wear my coat with it’s kharki hood
and every Saturday I’m here with you.
I draw the attention of the security guard
arranging my gaze, holding my arms
and every Saturday I’m here with you
and here is the church and this is a pew
it feels so good to be with you
and every Saturday I’m here with you
and in this space that’s like a glove,
they cut your fur and took your love
and every Saturday I’m here with you.
They cut your fur and made you tame
They brought you here, removed your name
and every Saturday I’m here with you.
your picture taken in the zoo,
your body mounted like a moose
and every saturday I’m here with you
In this wooden warm musuem
In those stately homely prisons
and every saturday I’m here with you
In your head an arctic circle
in your bones an arctic murder
and every saturday I’m here with you
but I wish I could send you home.