Peter Hughes
Peter Hughes was recently the Judith E. Wilson Visiting Fellow in Poetry at Cambridge University. He runs Oystercatcher Press. Recent publications include a Selected Poems (from Shearsman), versions of Petrarch’s complete sonnets (Reality Street), and Cavalcanty (Carcanet). His versions of Leopardi have just come out from Equipage. Peter is currently based in Cambridge.
Cork
the recording
informs us
we’re reversing
past a guy in
yellow weeding
plastic flowers
outside the city hall
a bar pulls up
beside myself
announcing WINE
BEER COCKTAILS
& though I’ve never
had a wine beer
cocktail there’s a
momentary pang
as the bus eases
forwards from one
missed opportunity
to who knows where
I try to read but can’t
stop imagining you
naked on our white
summer coverlet
I move uneasily & change
my seat to get a better
view of summer trees
along the road & your
astonishing reflection
in all these ways
my throat goes
dry I’m heading back
towards you with plans
for a new cocktail
called Momentary Pang
clink cheers & alla nostra
drain the loaded glasses
place them down
upon this bedside table
© 2018 Peter Hughes