Fail You

Fail You ( for Jessica Limbrick)

if each of the words
in this poem were
the size and mystery
of Ayers rock
or the height of
the angel waterfalls

if they were the length
of a midsummer's eve
shadows of trees
falling across a funfair
sirens on the fey breeze

if these words wrapped you
with a wave's weight
falling against your legs
as you kick out further to
taste the salt or the swell
of the sea

were they gilded or inlaid
displayed set under glass
as proof of history
ordered by the spectres
of kings and queens

if the words of this poem
were sung not read
if they found notes
of simple purity
that gilded the architraves
of cathedrals
with god's moments

if these words
never failed you
I would be their meaning
again and again
I would write them
no other way