The Adaptation of Mr. Fitzgerald
At eighty-eight he developed a safer, shuffling
Gait less prone to wobbles and loss of balance:
Neither foot would ever leave the ground completely,
So he was constantly anchored with both feet
Which slid forward, one after the other,
Miming the action of cross-country skis.
Potholes and debris were a nuisance of course;
He preferred smooth terrain and planned
His routes precisely. The Backs were fine
Even in Autumn. He could slide and glide
Through the leaves whether crisp or moist,
Coped better than before with frost and even ice.
Part of his retirement stipend went on frequent
Re-soling of his shoes but it was worth every
Penny to slip-walk his beloved Backs and visit
The New Acquisitions Section of the library
Every bracing, breathless morning
When he surprised himself by waking up.
He and other antique Dons could be seen sliding
Or wheeling themselves up the ramp, in zig-zag
Patterns to cope better with the slope, often
Racing each other to the new journals and books
Which kept them going and alert; they were
Determined to stay in the chase whatever it took.
The Backs refer to a sylvan part of Cambridge (UK) from
where the backs of the main colleges can be seen across
the river Cam. Most students and dons would have to
pass through the Backs to reach the University Library.
r.kv.r.y. quarterly literary journal
spring 2009 poetry by michael casey
At eighty-eight he developed a safer, shuffling
Gait less prone to wobbles and loss of balance:
Neither foot would ever leave the ground completely,
So he was constantly anchored with both feet
Which slid forward, one after the other,
Miming the action of cross-country skis.
Potholes and debris were a nuisance of course;
He preferred smooth terrain and planned
His routes precisely. The Backs were fine
Even in Autumn. He could slide and glide
Through the leaves whether crisp or moist,
Coped better than before with frost and even ice.
Part of his retirement stipend went on frequent
Re-soling of his shoes but it was worth every
Penny to slip-walk his beloved Backs and visit
The New Acquisitions Section of the library
Every bracing, breathless morning
When he surprised himself by waking up.
He and other antique Dons could be seen sliding
Or wheeling themselves up the ramp, in zig-zag
Patterns to cope better with the slope, often
Racing each other to the new journals and books
Which kept them going and alert; they were
Determined to stay in the chase whatever it took.
The Backs refer to a sylvan part of Cambridge (UK) from
where the backs of the main colleges can be seen across
the river Cam. Most students and dons would have to
pass through the Backs to reach the University Library.
r.kv.r.y. quarterly literary journal
spring 2009 poetry by michael casey
