Author: John Everex

Last night you told me.
Reality twisted and fell,
snagging on a hope.

Today, I replay
an infinite zoetrope,
and search for mistakes.

Yet in the flickers,
memory lights a story
too painful to hear.

dropping to earth
a bumblebee’s stumbling flight
I trace its progress

searching the crash site
dragging its dusty ruin
unable to fly

so gently I place
three spots of liquid honey
and watch its curled tongue

slipping under trees
the shadows flee our lanterns
hide, wait and quiver

we speak raucous verse
shrieking untamed poetry
until we are spent

leaving the others
escaping discordant light
I listen to the woods

blood flecks the grasses
ancient mewls and bitter cries
as they chase the hunt

bugles call their pride
as the sun lowers her head
in a shared mute shame

running panting breaths
flit under the ancient beech
into the woodland’s heart

light steps on concrete
cracked and stained by the ocean
rusting bones revealed

we scream in delight
as the surge slams and searches
throwing brine skyward

and sucking pebbles
and chip wrappers and seaweed
the grey wave recedes

we drink stolen wine
hidden, by the riverside
unkissed lips stained red

dreams and lies whisper
drift between the bullrush stems
raise up our nape hairs

and the moon watches
bears witness to transgression
pours silver linings

soft fingers hang blame
perfumed flowers overripe
a rotting garland

and she accepts it
eyes scratching the horizon
face, granite set

the scent lingers long
a trace of reminiscence
she tries to forget

the aching seafront
winters rusting erosion
and empty silence

sunlight on the pier
slats shadows on sandy grit
across hidden skin

holding cold fingers
you turn and recite poems
washed up driftwood words

a lone butterfly
snatched by an easterly wind
emerged too early

I watch it struggle
flash of powdery colour
blurring luminous

it leaves a slight trace
a light flicker of feeling
an itch of regret