Trio by Edwin Morgan

[anteros_lmc]

Something I promised to post earlier in the week...I've posted some of Edwin Morgan's poetry here before, this is probably one of his most famous pieces and it's still one of my favourites. It's also so very, very Glasgow :)

Trio Coming up Buchanan Street, quickly, on a sharp winter evening a young man and two girls, under the Christmas lights - The young man carries a new guitar in his arms, the girl on the inside carries a very young baby, and the girl on the outside carries a chihuahua. And the three of them are laughing, their breath rises in a cloud of happiness, and as they pass the boy says, "Wait till he sees this but!" The chihuahua has a tiny Royal Stewart tartan coat like a teapot-holder, the baby in its white shawl is all bright eyes and mouth like favours in a fresh sweet cake, the guitar swells out under its milky plastic cover, tied at the neck with silver tinsel tape and a brisk sprig of mistletoe. Orphean sprig! Melting baby! Warm chihuahua! The vale of tears is powerless before you. Whether Christ is born, or is not born, you put paid to fate, it abdicates under the Christmas lights. Monsters of the year go blank, are scattered back, can't bear this march of three. And the three have passed, vanished in the crowd (yet not vanished, for in their arms they wind the life of men and beasts, and music, laughter ringing them round like a guard) at the end of this winter's day

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is lovely. Men and bests and music.

You know, it is funny how much poetry works its way into Following Sea. And i have learned so much that is new to me.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's lovely isn't it?

You know, it is funny how much poetry works its way into Following Sea. And i have learned so much that is new to me.
Me too! Everyone has introduced me to so much amazing poetry over the last couple of years :)

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Fandabidosie.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Good intit?

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

The setting may be particular to a certain place-- but it is so easy to imagine in my city. The group coming down the street with the baby and the little dog, and the guitar. Could almost be Brooklyn too!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Yes. Morgan was very much a city poet and although many of his most famous works are specifically about Glasgow, there's a university to his writing I think. And particularly so with Trio.

Morgan's poetry actually helped to persuade me to come to Glasgow 25 years ago now!