Skin Stretched
The apostrophe
floats a balloon
across the action
the word requires
an intervention
so it stages one
if I could lift a snake so easily
from the jaws of meaning
it would become
if I could breathe helium
into a balloon
I would be life of the party
more than alien
and snake-charmer
extraordinaire
I wait for the word
to drop its fallacy
and leave the room
I wait for the snake
to see-out the constituents
surrounding it
No balloon succumbs
with a grace-note
rather a hiss or bang
the snake is accepting
and that is why
it slides from here
twisting through
the sentence it waits
in the long yard
for the party
to be over.
Really enjoyed this poem, Danny. Reminded me a little of Emily Dickinson. The way you have captured the character of language is truly enviable.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and the way you circle back to 'hiss or a bang' is nice. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis one snaked my loo then came back, bit me right on my arse! Lovely, and the violent capability I have come to expect from you in form. Smasher.
ReplyDeleteI really like the balloon/snake. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteGreat imagery and movement. Thanks! So many layers.
ReplyDelete