Poem of the Day
Today's POD is the title poem from Michael McCarthy's new collection, 'At the Races'. This book was the overall winner in the 2008/09 Book & Pamphlet Competition, and will be available to buy from the 16th of October. (The book launch is to be held at the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield S1 that evening. Tickets £6; all welcome.)
AT THE RACES
7 July 2007
In the dream my nephew, who is called after me
meets me at the races. He tells me I’m on yesterday’s video.
I remember yesterday, and where I was among the crowd.
I was in the grass paddock beside the hayshed,
standing on a rock above the furze machine.
It was around 1957. ‘There you are’ he says,
pointing up at the big screen.
I see myself coming towards me.
I’m wearing that checked grey overcoat.
I walk out of the screen past myself and notice
the overcoat is baggy. I’m bulkier than I thought.
As I walk up the terrace steps I observe myself
from the back. My hair is standing up. Thicker
than I remember. It’s turning from grey to black.
When I look again at the screen the video is finished.
I want to see the playback. The remote is out of reach.
I’m looking for a window-opener, or that long handled
candle-snuffer, when a woman asks me if she can help.
She gets the tape, a reel to reel, puts it into the machine.
I ask if it can be fast forwarded. She says not.
I’ll have to watch it from the start.
– Michael McCarthy, from 'At the Races' (2009)
The Poetry Business receives financial assistance from Arts Council England.
