how long has the man been walking
when he passes me and why
the single scaffold pole
what purpose could there be in such
singularity and what is
this weather fresh wind in the blossom
and the arctic front come down
from the north meaning two types of snow
what have we let happen to the world
what is this heaviness we didn’t
realise we felt until we found
the strength to set it down
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Andrew McMillan is the author of three poetry collections, published by Jonathan Cape. He lives in Manchester