Afternoons Redeemed

An irritating afternoon made messy by PRs and television producers was suddenly redeemed by the receipt of a book - The Landscapist by Pierre Martory, translated by John Ashbery. The book fell open at a poem called The Return of the Birds, the second half of which I now quote to redeem all your afternoons. For copyright purposes I claim fair use, abject admiration and gratitude.

'And a thousand tongues

Chatter in the gathering night

Commenting on the journey and

The sanctuary found at last

And a thousand tiny brains

Who never knew that tree that night

And still found it as we come back

Perhaps always to the first stupor

Happy without knowing what happiness is

Knowing we are there where we don't know where we are.'