18 FEBRUARY 1989, Page 30

De Viris Illustribus

Knowing you will not calm down Till I am half mad myself, I concede to you that our life Is half worthless and full of Terror. Nothing left for show, We drink, two old waterbuffalo Scarred at the drinking hour.

And what is it keeps us here: Absolute loyalty, of a sort, Humour, Intimacy — the comfort And jealousy that springs on Us. We are locked in a common Appetite for language, for The silences that were women passing.

Jim McCabe