Daily Poetry Readings #179: Wild Oats by Norman MacCaig read by Dr Iain McGilchrist

Part 179 of a daily series of readings of his favourite poetry by Dr Iain McGilchrist, author of The Master and His Emissary. Today’s poem is Wild Oats by Norman MacCaig.

Please subscribe to this channel to be notified of the next reading.

For updates on Iain’s upcoming new platform go to https://channelmcgilchrist.com

~ Wild Oats by Norman MacCaig ~

Every day I see from my window
pigeons, up on a roof ledge – the males
are wobbling gyroscopes of lust.

Last week a stranger joined them, a snowwhite
pouting fantail,
Mae West in the Women’s Guild.
What becks, what croo-croos what
demented pirouetting, what a lack
of moustaches to stroke.

The females – no need to be one of them
to know
exactly what they were thinking – pretended
she wasn’t there
and went dowdily on with whatever
pigeons do when they’re knitting.