Poem: ‘The Keepsake’
Fleur Adcock, 6 September 1984
In memory of Pete Laver
‘To Fleur from Pete, on loan perpetual.’ It’s written on the flyleaf of the book I wouldn’t let you give away outright: ‘Just make it permanent loan,’ I said – a joke between librarians, professional jargon. It seemed quite witty, on a night
when most things passed for wit. We were all hoarse by then, from laughing at the bits...