Sidestepping

I read pictures in stone,

in moss

algae,

I hear poems and song 

in the turbine

behind the stagnant

brick walls of the canal,

mosquitos little cousins

bite photographs in blood

and staring

at pebbles

gives vibrating atom visions

the syntax of wind

spoken in shades of green,

the apple sinks it's teeth

into my flesh,

the Troll has fled

his mud and brick abode

encased in iron skin

only the presence of a ghost,

lurking - one eyed - remains

and branches whisper, rasping,

naked, against each other...

of Alchemy and wet powder dreams,

what stories lie within

the limestone

what rituals and dance, forgotten upon the

sandstone blocks,

how many drops of sacrificial blood

(even your own, spilled in haphazard

farcity, is sacrificial )

encrusting the brown crust

                                  browner

seeping into the veins of

ninety year old oak vampires

unmoved and watching

whistling a somnambulists blues

inviting me to dream

in the barks caress

dark hollows of masonry

extending their radar leaves, 

radar love,

I pray for the nettles sweet kiss

upon my c**k

the feather - like sting of love.

Reviews

[Eilis]

When I first read this, I was enchanted by the kind of other-world vibe. Like there is someone standing behind a wall of brambles watching the natural world unfold in a human way. Like he got a sneak peek of something when the trees and such didn't hear him tiptoe up to the edge of the wood. I like that two-worlds feel to it.

But, there's also a sense of the pagan. The fleshly--the desire to mix with the natural world in ways that are less intuitive to modern sensibilities. I thought the mix of sensual and stony/prickly language here was the highlight. I'm forever (in the reading) feeling like I'm about to be snapped up into the center of some ritual. It's very muscular, but also maintains a certain delicacy that makes the gauze between the two worlds hold.

I, like Jacob, found the ending surprising. I wasn't expecting that turn, but it works to make me go back through the poem and see that the clues were there, in their own way, all along. A kind of romp through the raucous lanes of fairy land. That's my summary, anyway. I really liked the personality of this poem. It's alive. Maybe that sounds weird. I don't know.

[Shazbatt969]

Hey, Ellis, thanks , you are a star, you encapsulated the essence of me, it was all of the above, the other world vibe, the pagan, the poet, side tripping in a forest on daturas broken mind, but the sentiment and meaning ring true, the personality of this poem is me, I am alive and I sound weird, thanks for your great review, you spend more time analysing my sorry s**t, than I do writing, lol

[jacob erin-cilberto]

once the pain has been severe enough, we tend to have that radar up...and any love is going to seem like just another monster waiting to gobble us up...
love the last three lines especially...
the darkness is here much like the sounds of silence...and sometimes we long for that...but we still want the touch...just the touch, nothing else.
j.

[Shazbatt969]

Thanks j, you do realise the last three lines are about nettle whipping the money shot, lol, glad you liked them, try it some time,

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, i do...and it comes as a surprise and blunt ending...no pun intended.
:)
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Jesus fella! There is so much complete madness in this I think I am reading Poe. You certainly know how to refract the light of words and still keep them spell binding in colour and vibrance. Love the reference to radar love, one of my favs from the seventies!

[Shazbatt969]

Thanks , bet you liked the flagellation of bell end with nettle as well, never mind a pearl necklace, this is what a real golden earring is

[Shazbatt969]

Hey fellow poets, if you take the time to review this, I thank you, do not expect a reply, it's not because I am rude, some a*****e has hacked me so every comment I give comes up as Guest 49 years ago, I know others with the same problem, thanks for reading and enjoying, I might email response instead

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hack is ended for now fella!