Up by Kensal Green

Last night a pure white swan
           floating on the black waters
of the Grand Union Canal
           up at the top of Ladbroke Grove
as I crossed the bridge :
           and visible on the other side
out of the corner of my eye
           one of the grand side-gates
to Kensal Green cemetery
           where Harold Pinter lies still

and I remembered the many
           glasses of Chablis we once shared
and the power of his mind
           the power of his handshake
the power of his friendship
           and the frailty of all lives

John Lyons