Dancing Dust
	Poems by Mollie Caird (1922-2000)
	Freshman's alchemy
Home Alphabetic index of poems Thematic index of poems Biography Gallery Contact and links	In High street is a chemist’s shop, And in the window, at the top, Great phials of brilliant liquid glow Like giant jewels in a row. In these round glass convexities The passer-by reflected sees This dear, familiar, learned town In technicolour upside down. Drowned in bright liquor, gleaming red, Is Brasenose standing on its head, While All Saints’ spire, neatly reversed, As a fly in amber is immersed. Symbolic this of Michaelmas, When every eager freshman has Rose-coloured spectacles to view This ancient place, to him so new. We’ve scarce enjoyed our breathing-space When in he strides to take his place ― Young head, young heart, new cap, new gown ― And turns our city upside down. Oxford Times, 20 October 1967 The Dancing Dust and other poems, 1983