Alasdair Paterson

from Noctivagator


1.

You were there,
I was over here,
the swifts were
everywhere between
being transcendental and
complicated and always
trapped in their velocities.

Their knotwork fell
apart like old infatuation,
like the ghost of fireworks,
until another dusk thickened
round them and they were
only shivers in it.

I moved closer.
You let me help with
your imaginary shawl.