"The Poet's Corner..."

The Hug

Thom Gunn, 1929 - 2004

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.