In Search of Firewood
below the thin line of blue sky
mimicking the evening's tint,
the great north wood is marked
deep, sombre, silent and dark.
and despite the oppression
of the trees closing in, along
the braided ribbon of a river
bed walks two young boys.
they stop at the evidence of
stale blood on the ground, a sign
of a violent death three days
before, something wild ate here.
they move on taking the torturous
path through the forest looking
for the dead wood amongst the
gnarled roots of the broom and
the birch that slightly hem the
foot of the mountain. when they
peer towards its summit they see
nothing but it's hidden heights
in the thick of the full clouds.
The Brig
i)
broken
beside the harsh black
iron sand
the wreck splintered
and skeletal, lives
a lonely term.
the old prison brig
lost
against the bones
of the shore
it's own
timber shredded an wet
emaciated like a
forgotten rotting carcass
kept in gaol.
the tune of the wind
amongst
the broad sheet and mizen,
amongst the heavy rope
is long gone, like
freedom hoped.
men of Cruth'n drw
lashing hard fellows
brazen eyed upon the
prow
see no more but hear
only hear
a lone tin pipe
whistlin' to come
away.
ii)
out from the long
shore
breaking
through the tempered
sea laid the
lonely sail.
quarrelsome an impatient for
berth from the
nursing storm.
billowing passage
onboard the
blue wave,
canvas dancing seeking peace
and calming rest
from lingering
tortured tears.
No trace
no trace
will be found.
iii)
the immortals of the shore
and
the ones who die
a little every day
The Water Nymph
there is a skin over
her calloused eyes
an a fortress of tears locked away
the key
an old cast iron one
is in her angry grasp
as she foolishly
but adroitly
skips away
She is a type of fragile
water nymph,
the mythical and the paradox
drowning
as her wings sodden cannot unfurl
and the heavy key
drags her down
in the clear frozen light
of day
Up above her in a world of living secrets
hangs the guarded, the mortal life
of men
kissing rich lips dry
caressing the bosom of
mortal women
and not caring that death as little as her
will happen in
the wishing.
