Lee Harwood (1939-2015)

Sad to see an old friend and a poet I admired very much leave our world. You should check out his Collected Poems published by Shearsman Books in 2004. Download a PDF sampler from this book here. Below, a poem from the early 70s:

Five postcards to Alban Berg

1
waves break over the headland
the pain of closeness  / “to a lover”
The mountains
walk in the mountains
The lightness of touch
clear air

2
the blue sky
(pan to) spring ploughing
and cattle grazing on the (green) slopes
the wild flowers abundant and      many coloured
Can you see now?   can I… ?
Many miles away…      Here

3
The dark night  / “close to your lover”
the rain and wind outside

4
in the evenings as the sun sets
red skies and the swimming

the insult of an image
when it’s only what’s here before you

5
the skies clear        (blue)
midday       the moon still there
sheep deep in the flowers      daisies and poppies
Off beyond the distance “you”
Minutes in the day when (maybe) the pictures cross
and focus
The island     firm
the mountains up into the sky      “beyond”

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