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This poem is taken from Poetry Nation 3 Number 3, 1974.

Three Poems W.S. Graham


THE SECRET NAME

1

Whatever you've come here to get
You've come to the wrong place. It
(I mean your name) hurries away
Before you in the trees to escape.

I am against you looking in
At what you think is me speaking.
Yet we know I am not against
You looking at me and hearing.

If I had met you earlier walking
With the poetry light better
We might we could have spoken and said
Our names to each other. Under

Neath the boughs of the last black
Bird fluttered frightened in the shade
I think you might be listening. I
...


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