So Light You Were
I Would Have Carried You
So light you were
I would have carried you,
hacked from the ice
a bridge,
you in my arms,
from February into April.
And crossed
above the snow
banked narrowing
the streets, this winter's
tired citizens, the erlking
and his foundling crossing.
Light as you were
I would have carried you
from the room
of your death back
to our room,
climbed back,
crawled up the stairs
to our bed.
From February into
April, hid in your arms
in the woods
frantic please.
Light as we were.
And could be carried out
on a float of last year's
leaves
and bracken thaw
rinsing the tide pools.
So light you were.
I would have carried you
from February
into April.
___________________________
Deborah Digges
Trapeze
Knopf, 2004
