after Dylan Thomas.
‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’
Do not go reckless into love, my girl.
Beware of skilful charms at close of day.
Wrapped in romance, watch out for churls.
Wise women before you have hurled
their senses and their plans astray.
Do not go reckless into love, my girl.
Good wives, their patience drained, turned taciturn,
dream of silken beds and wild sea spray
wrapped in far romance, all flags unfurled.
Untamed, we weave our talents in high swirls,
learn too late the price such courage pays:
do not go reckless into love, my girl.
Old women know with private smiles down-turned
the female joys and burdens, all the ways
we wrap our secrets safe, count pleasures earned.
And you, young woman, sound advice all spurned,
your heart trussed up in white lace and bouquets…
May all be well in your new hopeful world
but treasure this, my gift: pre-paid return.
© Rosie Johnston
Picture 10985747, photograph by Robin Dale, 1970s.
Image copyright, Mary Evans / Robin Dale
Rosie Johnston’s four poetry books are published by Lapwing Publications in Belfast, most recently Six-Count Jive in 2019. Off the Map is the title poem of her fifth collection, to be published by Lapwing in 2023. Her poems have appeared in Snakeskin, The Phare, London Grip, Culture NI, FourxFour, The Honest Ulsterman, Mary Evans Picture Library’s Poems and Pictures blog, Words for the Wild. Her poetry is anthologised by Live Canon, Arlen House, OneWorld’s Places of Poetry anthology, Fevers of the Mind and American Writers Review. She reads her poetry widely, most recently at Faversham and Gloucester Poetry Festivals. http://www.rosiejohnstonwrites.com
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