Andrew Waterhouse

Zum Freitod des britischen Lyrikers Andrew Waterhouse schreibt der Guardian:
Early in Andrew Waterhouse’s collection is a poem of striking prescience: „This is a forest./Here is a car/in the forest./That is a person/in the car/in the forest./This is a quiet forest.“ Inevitability is a concept to conjure with. But it is essential not to romanticise, says Linda France. „Andrew was there to show us how to live, not how to die.“

The Illustrated Calf

The vellum pages of old manuscripts will take on the curves of their original shape over time.
An Introduction to Book Restoration
J. Makepeace

After various centuries the Book’s pages
finally bent and realigned, escaped
their tight gatherings and the library,
stood upright once more, four legged, wet nosed.
The covers sat in place on the animal’s back,
like a saddle or stunted wings. Some words
became clearer: on its tongue caelorum ,
along the tail beau quisant . Fine initials
followed the lines of the ribs, in the fur
grew spirals and knots between the eyes
a cross flamed. Of all the evangelists,
poor Mark came off worst, being far too close
to the arse for comfort. Now, Luke’s healing hand
settles over the calf’s heart and it shivers
in the rain, takes a second first breath,
kicks out, begins to gallop across the grass.

The Guardian 3.1.02