Before The Book Is Born - Part I in a straightjacketmy soul treadsback & forthdiagonal & circularpaths eroding thefloor of my Belonging she bangs her headagainst steel wool wallswon’t eatwon’t drink can’t sleepfor the lunatic lyricsmean melodies tothe Songs of Fearceaseless in the spacelike poison I do not belongcarved in a cornerfrom before Love watches waits Linda… Continue reading Poem 16 – Before The Book Is Born Part I
Poem 15 – Amaryllis II
Amaryllis II I kiss the white waist of her petal closestto my face after I open the curtainsin the living room In response she arches into my cheekwe both smile Then in the kitchenon the crumb-sweateredcutting board – a wishbone in waitdried for weekscrusted in muscle I pick it upconsider the act of a two-persontradition reducedto one Consider the consequence oftesting fortune… Continue reading Poem 15 – Amaryllis II
Poem 14 – New Moon Mediation – The Mountain Goat
New Moon Meditation - The Mountain Goat I envision a mountain goatIt is maleA worn copper bellhangs under his chinHe has buck teethbright white like Chicletsstartling blue eyes a smile that lifts moreon the right than on the lefta laugh hides under hisbottom lip The mountain goat eats rootsMy rootsPlunged deeply in thecentre of the earthHe… Continue reading Poem 14 – New Moon Mediation – The Mountain Goat
VANESSA SHIELDS 