A Glass of Water

By David Musgrave b. 1965 David Musgrave

Un seul verre d’eau éclaire le monde Cocteau

Behind the wedding couple, a mirror harbours

their reception.

Outside, from the verandah, the harbour mirrors

the exception

of city from sky, hills snug with houses

and a glass of water standing on the railing,

half empty or half full. In the failing

afternoon light

brightening buildings counterpoint the darkness,

glinting upside-

down inside the glass, and the newly-weds,

seen from outside

joining hand to hand for the wedding reel,

glide under its meniscus, head over heels.

David Musgrave, "A Glass of Water" audio from Open Water, Audio CD, River Road Press, 2007; text from Phantom Limb, John Leonard Press, 2010: by permission of River Road Press and the poet. Copyright © 2007, 2010 by David Musgrave.

Source: Open Water (River Road Press, 2007)

A Glass of Water

A Glass of Water

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