LISTEN. PUT ON MORNING - by W. S. Graham

LISTEN.  PUT  ON  MORNING  by  W. S. Graham Listen. Put on morning.Waken into falling light.A man’s imaginingSuddenly may inheritThe handclapping centuriesOf his one minute on earth.And hear the virgin juriesTalk with his own breathTo the corner boys of his street.And hear the Black MariaSearching the town at night.And hear the playropes caaThe sister Mary in.And hear Willie and DavieAmong bracken of NarnainSing in a mist heavyWith myrtle and listeners.And hear the higher townWeep a petition of fearsAt the poorhouse close uponThe public heartbeat.And hear the children tigAnd run with my own feetInto the netting dragOf a suiciding principle.Listen. Put on lightbreak.Waken into miracle.The audience lies awakeUnder the tenementsUnder the sugar docksUnder the printed moments.The centuries turn their locksAnd open under the hillTheir inherited books and doorsAll gathered to distilLike happy berry pickersOne voice to talk to us.Yes listen. It carries awayThe second and the yearsTill the heart’s in a jacket of snowAnd the head’s in a helmet whiteAnd the song sleeps to be wakenedBy the morning ear bright.Listen. Put on morning.Waken into falling light.