Like a windup toy it sidles the porchin an awkward jete,so black it’s purple as wet shiny aggregate.The voice older than memorya surviving ayr a timepiece of yo yosometimes stretched out walking the dog,or a sharpie up and downback into an unread palm.A mini Godzilla head side jerkthe beady summation of reflected pride,before the kamikaze … Continue reading The Raven’s Malaise
Author: James Walton
Daylight Saving, Eastern Standard Time
They told us cold milk was the blood of angelsit was during the Tokyo Olympics.Our knees froze together in the morningthis was good discipline for us,God knows there were people suffering.And last night I cuffed the moontried to pull it down into the lounge,a lever with a button dial an old typewriter key;the one pin … Continue reading Daylight Saving, Eastern Standard Time
Waiting
There is no balm for the yearning of eucalypts,candlebarks stretch up this vaulted wantingdahlias splash an insane chant over a paddocka calf nods and backs into a startled wander,one day she might raspily lick the mystery of my supplicant salty palm. Kunzeas shake in the darting thoughts of ransacking honeyeaters;galaxies of shining filaments catch their … Continue reading Waiting
When the fever breaks, Covid song
I might go down to Clevelandwhere my people worked the minesas the ocean rose through shaleand their lives were cast asideheard the house may be still be standingwith the brush growing holdbut the planes aren’t taking airand ships are locked to wharvesall the things we used to trafficin the blustery broken daysgone wild now from … Continue reading When the fever breaks, Covid song
Armada Psalm to the Spanish Main
You were more Romany than Dutchin most of those inclinations gypsynot polite unqizzical Amsterdama head of flumed unwilted magentaa jack in the box of surprisesthat could not be upbraided I still cook for the both of usalthough there’s a chef travellingwith the circus in Spainlast I heard north of Barcelonain the best of sumac and … Continue reading Armada Psalm to the Spanish Main
In the whimsy of cockatoos, merging flocks
They are late this morninga cacophony from the south easttwo relayed arcsboisterous in their shiningin axis out of a woad skyshouting of pillagewhere the pines topple into oceannow an altitude of scythesmaking delay a pastbeat cumulous shieldsconverge for instructionmaul out the linkflailing from a lemon sulphur pavlovato peel away in renewed certainty John Downton 'noisy … Continue reading In the whimsy of cockatoos, merging flocks
Couleurs d’Arles
In Arles I bought three Camargue shirtswhite embroidered in red and blue xanthousand one azure fleur-de- lis in Large.‘Paris est tres jolie’ the maker’s wifewhile holding their new babyshowed me the workshop and pure cotton foils,as her husband worked the sewing machine.We gestured in hand to mouth comprehensionI made my choice and passed the Euros,then … Continue reading Couleurs d’Arles
How to bake the best breakfast scones in easy steps
Remove overfed cat from kitchen benchwipe down (bench) and remove hairwipe out mixing bowl removing furscrub pastry board, unblock sinkplace wad of cat (from sink) in compost bucketfrom pantry remove flour etcand furball in entrance, yes that 3am noise was realfind (chewed) packet of yeastopen window and yell I hate fucking catsconsole neighbours who think … Continue reading How to bake the best breakfast scones in easy steps
By a window, mid Fall
Sunday always has that gamey flavoura secret tilt of baking dish, the table spoonof flour. My arm in redoubt against a raiding fork,the last of the potatoes, salty crisp top of mouth.Toddlers falling off the soft chocolate of family,lips fat with mutton, mashed peas for chins.Mint by the gulley trap in a mauve furze of … Continue reading By a window, mid Fall
Sorting the Morning
I am waiting for dayhere in the bed without youspreadeagled on secondsthat take light years to arrive and depart.Going over your letters and postcardsI wonder if love can be diminished in transitso giddy I might lose myselfin the slippery travertine of words and images.I’m volley balling the moonpretending to focus somehow resoluteif I look at … Continue reading Sorting the Morning