jenni daiches

Geometry

for M. B.

We talked till late
of circles and straight
lines, of gendered time,
of women living in the round
and the onwardness of men.

And then,
today I made a circle, walked
from Seven Sisters Road
to Upper Street and found
bistros and brasseries
but the shop gone
that cut the butter
into quarter pounds.

The Hare and Hounds
still there, thank God, where
he and I ate lunch
that very first of days.
Then to the Angel
to complete the circle
I'd begun
when i was regrettably young.

Meanwhile the men
race on, leaving the earth
rather than bend
as if life were straight,
as if to follow a curve
were to deviate.