Dannie Abse

1923 - 2014 / Cardiff / United Kingdom

Song for Pythagoras

White coat and purple coat
a sleeve from both he sews.
That white is always stained with blood,
that purple by the rose.

And phantom rose and blood most real
compose a hybrid style;
white coat and purple coat
few men can reconcile.

White coat and purple coat
can each be worn in turn
but in the white a man will freeze
and in the purple burn.
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