Most Read... John McAuliffeBill Manhire in Conversation with John McAuliffe
(PN Review 259)
Patricia CraigVal Warner: A Reminiscence
(PN Review 259)
Eavan BolandA Lyric Voice at Bay
(PN Review 121)
Joshua WeinerAn Exchange with Daniel Tiffany/Fall 2020
(PN Review 259)
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 Kirsty Gunn re-arranges the world John McAuliffe reads Seamus Heaney's letters and translations Chris Price's 'Songs of Allegiance' David Herman on Aharon Appelfeld Victoria Moul on Christopher Childers compendious Greek and Latin Lyric Book Philip Terry again answers the question, 'What is Poetry'
Poems Articles Interviews Reports Reviews Contributors
Reader Survey
PN Review Substack

This poem is taken from PN Review 226, Volume 42 Number 2, November - December 2015.

The Works Ian Patterson
Onset

The strange turning arose at his birth
as if my brain was glad to run from it

for the poets after him greedily lapping up
will not create the ocean

though ships sailed round about
they would have been strict rivals

as any boat could tumble
after it had relapsed for want of the shore

the sands there for the first
the second that they burnt and crushed

the third thought eaten up
in all the distress in my head

when thought will have a mile of it
but this common heath lost

and a flying voice dispersed
...


Searching, please wait... animated waiting image