On William Cowper’s Mirror, at Olney
On William Cowper’s Mirror, at Olney
the epoux
is through-
the cave
looked back at me
just a mirror
showing me in her place
looking back
at my loss
in its mask of horror
yet I was certain
we’d been together
all that time
did my turning round
put me where
she had been
or reveal the truth
she was never there
all along
King’s Arms
Oxford 3 October 2013