The only thing that you will ever learn
is that love won’t break your heart,
usually. Tear out those wrist lines
paint them in the blood of the goat,
carefully. When you hang me upside down
remember whether obedience or heavenly nearness,
summoned. Hands outstretched offered in peace
no longer warmed at the oracle brazier,
pray. Our pulse runs together finally
earth above a fatal dizziness spell,
ends. Burnt rosemary, a theocracy of wood,
the beautiful frailty of human souls make the gods.
‘Unstill Mosaics’ Busybird Publishing 2019, p 26.
Cover: Cat and Daughter by Toshiko Mitani, used with the kind permission of the owner and the Museum of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture Japan.
James Walton Poetry 