Christopher Allan
Axeman
Through his mind
the bright beasts dance
hoofbeats pulse
spine and flexed hip -
the magic forest
released
in a climb of chords;
wings widen, rise,
skirt the unknown,
snakes fall
from cradling flowers,
spiderwebs blossom
in tiger-shade.
Row on row they reel and rock -
acid head, misfits,
screwed up, dope-eyed,
their head-bang hair
dishevelled
in the forest storm.
Every third number, another
instrument,
as if silver strings
grew too warm
from the long, loud solos.
Now feedback adds its grit
for the pearl,
notes crackle,
curve into improbable shapes.
Sometimes it simply gets scary -
the song comes apart
and the stage
becomes a river,
the neck
of the strat held clear,
squirming like a serpent...
the bright beasts dance
hoofbeats pulse
spine and flexed hip -
the magic forest
released
in a climb of chords;
wings widen, rise,
skirt the unknown,
snakes fall
from cradling flowers,
spiderwebs blossom
in tiger-shade.
Row on row they reel and rock -
acid head, misfits,
screwed up, dope-eyed,
their head-bang hair
dishevelled
in the forest storm.
Every third number, another
instrument,
as if silver strings
grew too warm
from the long, loud solos.
Now feedback adds its grit
for the pearl,
notes crackle,
curve into improbable shapes.
Sometimes it simply gets scary -
the song comes apart
and the stage
becomes a river,
the neck
of the strat held clear,
squirming like a serpent...
Page(s) 11-12
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