The Same Gesture

There is a secret room
of golden light where
everything – love, violence,
hatred is possible;
and, again, love.

Such intimacy of hand
and mind is achieved
under its healing light
that the shifting of
hands is a rite

like court music.
We barely know our
selves there though
it is what we always were
– most nakedly are –

and must remember
when we leave, re-
suming our habits
with our clothes:
work, 'phone, drive

through late traffic
changing gears with
the same gesture as
eased your snowbound
heart and flesh.

from Collected Poems (Gallery Press, 1995) ? John Montague 1995, used by permission of the author and The Gallery Press.

John Montague (b.1929, New York), the author of many books of poetry, stories, memoirs and essays, has been called “the greatest ...
John Montague in the Poetry Store

The free tracks you can enjoy in the Poetry Archive are a selection of a poet’s work. Our catalogue store includes many more recordings which you can download to your device.

Themes
Close