THE POEM

        

        THE HUG - THOM GUNN

   It was your birthday, we had drunk and dined

          Half of the night with our old friend

                Who'd showed us in the end

       To a bed I reached in one drunk stride.

                          Already I lay snug,

And drowsy with the wine dozed on one side.

         I dozed, I slept. My sleep broke on a hug,

                       Suddenly, from behind,

    In which the full lengths of our bodies pressed:

                       Your instep to my heel,

         My shoulder-blades against your chest.

                 It was not sex, but I could feel

             The whole strength of your body set,

                             Or braced, to mine,

                          And locking me to you

                   As if we were still twenty-two

             When our grand passion had not yet

                               Become familial.

                My quick sleep had deleted all

               Of intervening time and place.

                                  I only knew

         The stay of your secure firm dry embrace.