Poem – Earthquake (By David Russell)

Earthquake What happened? There was a fault. What’s a fault? It’s when one piece of the earth juts above another. Why does that happen? Because the explosion down below Goes on forever.   But was that fault anybody’s? It was the earth’s; it’s beyond us. The seething energy-city, ever greedy to accelerate. Did its makers long to sharpen that fault, […]

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Poem – Ritual Roots (By David Russell)

Ritual Roots Trains: Stringing, ringing, lifting, Breathing meringues, with pores distended at the termini   Contraction is needed for piercing of bars And holing of tickets.   The breaking of one deadlock only Institutes another, more firm, In the hand and in the basket.   More futile by far than any old bird’s weak flight Through a Church, a hall […]

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Poem – Mid-Life (By David Russell)

Mid-Life   So much happened; So much didn’t – So nice to remember; So painful to recall   Now nothing is all, The power to recall Is an anaesthetic – Past strength Is pathetic.   In the middle, What’s kept still here What was and is gone, What never was – All levelled.   All comes to ground, abrades, That’s […]

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Poem – Alchemist (By David Russell)

Alchemist Sing, earth-captured starlight Purest light to touch the earth Purest light to flow through day and night To flood our sense-zone; Sing through my blinking tubes and phials, All potions, never poured; Yet all suffused in afterthought. My litmus-jewels, made one by burning faces, turning suns, That charred the fixed eye, the rooted touch. Bodies I gel, not cruelly […]

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Poem – Underwater Ballet (By David Russell)

Underwater Ballet In the wistful – drowning; All dreamers hold their breath; Floating balloon Rests full in blister world before the land.   Slippery between skin and scales, Drawn throbbing from the gilled; Great tuna from crustaceans postulated, Anemones new-boned; Parallel concert writhe Curls double joints.   Flippers of androgyny Erected supple   Thighs hoisted angular Lungs ultra-blown;   Last […]

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