Most Read... John McAuliffeBill Manhire in Conversation with John McAuliffe
(PN Review 259)
Patricia CraigVal Warner: A Reminiscence
(PN Review 259)
Joshua WeinerAn Exchange with Daniel Tiffany/Fall 2020
(PN Review 259)
Eavan BolandA Lyric Voice at Bay
(PN Review 121)
Vahni CapildeoOn Judging Prizes, & Reading More than Six Really Good Books
(PN Review 237)
Christopher MiddletonNotes on a Viking Prow
(PN Review 10)
Next Issue Sinead Morrissey 'The Lightbox' Philip Terry 'What is Poetry' Ned Denny 'Nine Poems after Verlaine' Sasha Dugdale 'On learning that Russian mothers buy their soldier sons lucky belts inscribed with Psalm 90 to wear into battle' Rod Mengham 'Cold War Hot Air'
Poems Articles Interviews Reports Reviews Contributors
Reader Survey
PN Review Substack

This poem is taken from PN Review 9, Volume 6 Number 1, September - October 1979.

Four Poems Cliff Ashby

I could, if pressed, write I suppose
About the beauty of your nose
Although the truth is-dare I tell?
I don't recall it very well.
Your eyes would make some copy too
I do remember both are blue
And mellow like a well kept wine
So much superior to mine
Which have a rather shifty roll
Like two fish swimming in a bowl.
Your ears I will assume are there
Incarcerated in your hair.
I should, because it's fair and just
Describe the merits of your bust,
But this might give the verse a twist
Repugnant to the Methodist.
...


Searching, please wait... animated waiting image