Lay for the Day 27th January

1756, the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A poem from the book of Praises.

7. Of Mozart

Dotted in unequal sequence down their stalks,
disclosing themselves by the fistful
while, coy and corpulent, the raspberry hides,
the armed and taunting bramble
dangles out of reach,
these that, once their faint-bloomed gloss has burst, will
stain mouths purple, perfectly poised
between tart and sweet – blackcurrants, globe by
globe, show how complete’s
their inky pregnant likeness
to Wolfgang’s crotchets.

John Gibbens, from Collected Poems

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