My mind was racing.
It was some years from now.
We were together again in our old flat.
You were admiring yourself adjusting your hat.
“Oh of course I was mad then,” you said with a forgiving smile,
“Something snapped in me and I was mad for a while.”

But this madness of yours disgusted me,
This alibi,
this gorgeous madness like a tinkling sleigh,
It carried you away
Snug in your fur, snug in your muff and cape.
You made your escape
Through the night, over the dry powdery snow.
I watched you go.

Truly the mad deserve our sympathy.
And you were driven mad you said by me
And then you drove away
The cushions and the furs piled high,
Snug with your madness alibi,
Injured and forgiven on your loaded sleigh.

James Fenton