If I was dead,
And my bones adrift
Like dropped oars
In the deep, turning earth;
Or drowned,
And my skull
A listening shell
On the dark ocean bed;
If I was dead,
And my heart
Soft mulch
For a red, red rose;
Or burned,
And my body
A fistful of grit, thrown
In the face of the wind;
If I was dead,
And my eyes,
Blind at the roots of flowers
Wept into nothing,
I swear your love
Would raise me
Out of my grave,
In my flesh and blood,
Like Lazarus;
Hungry for this,
And this, and this,
Your living kiss.
Jul 7, 2014
Jul 7, 2014 at 7:00 AM UTC
If I was dead,
And my bones adrift
Like dropped oars
In the deep, turning earth;
Or drowned,
And my skull
A listening shell
On the dark ocean bed;
If I was dead,
And my heart
Soft mulch
For a red, red rose;
Or burned,
And my body
A fistful of grit, thrown
In the face of the wind;
If I was dead,
And my eyes,
Blind at the roots of flowers
Wept into nothing,
I swear your love
Would raise me
Out of my grave,
In my flesh and blood,
Like Lazarus;
Hungry for this,
And this, and this,
Your living kiss.
One of my favourites.
If I was dead - Carol Ann Duffy
Duffy is truly an inspiring poet, this is one of her best works.
