Thimbles of ancient obscurity
overfilled chalice
losing faith over its rim
as you walk around the crater
which way
go down in a collapsing
dance sequence underfoot
these crystalline eyes emit square tears
like sugar cubes spat out by a dispenser
the shock value of secretaries
wasted on the military
imprisoned by wealth and influence
he had to wear a hat in the sunlight
it burnt yellow rings into his skin
He spent the afternoon arguing
about the state of the prisoners
they walked with a broken gait
dragging their feet through the yard
knees bent and sad
lifted by boney fingers
the ritual of the lost
the jarring words of a matriarch
working you back to the straight and narrow
working you with an eye to the nothing
with an eye to the end
- 5 November 2008
- Nicholas Alexander
Poem accepted for publication in the next edition of Live Lines