Liz James (b. 1956). Poet and novelist. Her books of poetry include The Prettiest Women of the Empire are Dancing, Body Language and Sixteen Archers. Her two published novels are Here We Wander, There We Weep and Thunder, Perfect Mind.

Look at me with darker tenders in your eyes,
and muddy heart will be dark wine:
autumn and auburn, holly and shade …
O death, you will yet be jarred,
you will not shut the tasty way.

Now I must study how this invisible fraud
can chime true.