CANCER
For her it is not a matter of ashes and dust.
She is in full blaze.
Logs wholly orange feast in the lingering night air
commanding a roaring wind to feed their passion.
Light transparent as a spirit
springs iris blue out of the wood
fans into bird-of-paradise fingers
impenetrable in their brightness.
Flame cuts clean through the rings of time.
steadily gives out its hot neon.
We who come close
have cold backs and flushed cheeks.
We watch the sunset coals,
glimpse autumn trees in the fleeting flames.
Hearts go out after the sparks
making their way to eternity.
Julien Winspear
CASTRATION
Watching my wife play a computer game
Terrifies me.
I see a woman
who
tames a Megabyte,
subdues a Microwave,
domesticates an Overlocker,
beats into submission endless
hordes of roaming shopping trolleys,
conquer, consumately, creatures
of such terror I dare but mention
them;
EFTPOS
ATM
VISA
VCR
CD.
Whatever happened to
My Cave?
My Club?
My Woman?
My Goodness!!
Steve Taylor