Kevin Higgins

Never
after Alfonso Gatto

The dread of being together
forcing us back to sleep.
The sewer pipes are
our murderer clearing his throat.
And light not needed by the day,
throwing itself uselessly against
the sea-salted window pane,
leaves evidence of itself
on the prehistoric carpet.
Animal sounds. Then words
we don’t yet know the meaning of.
Each still behind their mask
not yet quite alive. The hours refusing to pass
for fear this might amount to more
than a thought two ex-people once had
in private. And never dared
sing out in chorus.

In 2016, The Stinging Fly magazine described Kevin Higgins as "likely Ireland's most read living Irish poet". Kevin's sixth full collection of poems will be published by Salmon Poetry next March. https://twitter.com/KevinHIpoet1967