Giles Watson's poetry and prose
They which do hunger and thirst
They which do hunger and thirst
I could really get my teeth into righteousness,
as into a hunk of freshly risen bread - could drink
deeply of its lifeblood - were it not for that old
weevil, self, spoiling the whole repast. Watch
closely how it channers through those yeasty holes
in the still-warm body of the loaf, half-blindly
awaiting its own metamorphosis into a black beetle.
No doubt it leaves a trail of bran-coloured dung
on which I could choke. No, I am not righteous -
nor would I have it conferred on me by grace, faith
or any other substitute for a wholesome meal.
The grub will find the centre, and drown in blood.
Love, lust, covetousness, desire: do your worst.
At least I'll live: I'll hunger and I'll thirst.
Poem by Giles Watson, 2013. The picture shows a detail of a memorial brass in Northleach church, Gloucestershire, depicting Thomas Adynet, early 15th century.
They which do hunger and thirst
They which do hunger and thirst
I could really get my teeth into righteousness,
as into a hunk of freshly risen bread - could drink
deeply of its lifeblood - were it not for that old
weevil, self, spoiling the whole repast. Watch
closely how it channers through those yeasty holes
in the still-warm body of the loaf, half-blindly
awaiting its own metamorphosis into a black beetle.
No doubt it leaves a trail of bran-coloured dung
on which I could choke. No, I am not righteous -
nor would I have it conferred on me by grace, faith
or any other substitute for a wholesome meal.
The grub will find the centre, and drown in blood.
Love, lust, covetousness, desire: do your worst.
At least I'll live: I'll hunger and I'll thirst.
Poem by Giles Watson, 2013. The picture shows a detail of a memorial brass in Northleach church, Gloucestershire, depicting Thomas Adynet, early 15th century.