Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

1.

wandering as a river might
the past nearby
with little time
the statutes of breathing
or how the northern light shines

why do you say these things why do
these things you do say these things

2.

beneath skin and under my
breath I whisper my mistakes

it was as if

this is the right place to be
whatever
filled with cigarettes
how can I be
outside his own body
well the mobile kicked in
and then the picture book

I cannot draw pictures with words
the image, so clear in my mind
becomes a trembling finger becomes
the writing pen the ghosts
of the past how I’ve turned on the
light it seems like a story I’m
telling myself as if it’s not true
and then in the re-telling it turns
out to be true

3.

making shut eye keeping
an image clear not quite
tough enough not quite
in shape a style I couldn’t
recognise a long
sentence ten to life

4.

there were rules within the cortex
on one side the system sits while on the

other a picture book
I learn how to write
I clench my fingers around the pencil
the writing body
writes the holes are
new the way the pain gets out
through the running blood
thick with tension through the
new holes I open my mouth and
try to speak I cover my eyes my ears
I clap my hand to my mouth smoke
drifts from between fingers

5.

trying to talk through the skin
I shudder, it must be me
think for yourself
work things out
the person
I am
does some
thing with a body I listen
I forget half the time
to listen to the words
to one side of the question
I try to peer through others’ eyes
as if through mist
they appear back

6.

I insert the blade
just beneath the skin
I see the blood flow
numb all over
all over dumb
the words dry up the endless
list of explanation the
excuses a drift into silence
only the tobacco gets through
or strong drink or the silence
following

7.

shapes appear
seeking complexity
the simple line drawing blood
a shape of a heart
the drift of the blade on unmarked skin
crossing the tracks and trails

8.

take a few care
of few not a
care with you or
in recovery I keep
the airways clear
check for repulse