Ice cold at Coole

In the form of ‘Ode to the Virginian Voyage’ by Michael Drayton (1563-1631)

Only you would venture

out in the woods today

to places he once knew

where you pursue

your adventure:

a novice, come to pray.

A compact edition

carried close to your heart,

forsaking a warm fire

(your heart’s desire),

today’s mission

might help you make a start.

Needing inspiration,

you carefully tread

with the aim of finding

some new blinding

revelation;

you get frostbite instead.

Don’t wrestle with the muse:

your turn will come around.

So go back to your fire

(your heart’s desire)

where you can choose

to wait on safer ground.

Originally published on the Galway Review website in May 2013.