Halos from Purcell's Revenge by Ana Silvera, Concerto Caledonia, David McGuinness

Halos

The birds are coming back like the circus
does each year – These swallows
Etching their lines in this picture
Waves above corn rows –
Tides above furrows still frozen
Compass-drawn arrows
Circles drawn gold in the water
Halos –

I came up early like twilight
Porous with sorrow
And the sun pulled its roots from the winter
Leaving us all alone –
Suddenly wide-eyed and fearless
I held your hand by the road
Watching the mist in the trees,
Like halos

And like these birds, my thoughts returning
Tombs in the last glow
Years past, since you were turned in the grass
Beneath the wakeless snow
I’ll pluck the down from your pillow
Light you a cigarette,
Watching the smoke making rings
Like halos

Ana Silvera

• Classical
• Scottish
• baroque
• folk
• traditional
• Glasgow