in sligo at the grave of yeats
limestone slab here at the curbing
on the edge of this english cemetery
a place for you and wife george
your words still sharp from the chisel
you commanded would be done
they sent the corvette macha
and eleven days at sea bringing you home
piped you ashore at galway
for the journey here to drumcliff
and sean macbride came for a state
honoring its laureate and senator
this summer day our sunday visit
how unlike that winter of wild rain
when heinrich boll stood here alone
and startled by the rooks
cawing out of the graves
imagined they were your enchanted swans
© John Knoepfle 2004
This article appears in Mar 18-24, 2004.
