Horizon Fireless

Such Simple Love

by:Thomas McGrath

All night long I hear the sleepers toss
Between the darkened window and the wall.
The madman's whimper and the lover's voice,
The worker's whisper and the sick child's call --
Knowing them all


I'd walk a mile, maybe hearing some cat
Crying its guts out, to throttle it by hand,
Such simple love I had. I wished I might --
Or God might -- answer each call in person and
Each poor demand.


Well, I'd have been better off sleeping myself.
These fancies had some sentimental charm,
But love without direction is a cheap blanket
And even if it did no one any harm,
No one is warm.