Alchemisland

Sun is setting pleasantly, sky colour of mescaline

Lovely setting to inspect the medicine

Shrubs on deck, customers and investors texting what’s taking so long

Mention the admix to which they’re addicted, obey any stricture

Send them a picture to keep that interest, let it rest, let it linger

Next message the price per tincture, more zeroes than one key binary

By the sea, by the brine but I’m not diving, no seeing reefs

What I’m chiefing they call the kief, or recall off keys, please

Please me all I see in each plea, I’m greedy, hoarding mercy

Side chick in Merseyside see her once in a while, not wife material

But astounding ride, takes pride in her lack of aversion to new material

Afterwards, cock tired, take the M5 at 155, 10.55 slept in by

Mistake, lack of discipline invites chaos inside, ride on

Like the Christy Moore song, I had Morbid Angel’s Rapture on

I saw a snapshot of me dying with my Deicide shirt on, victim of slipshod

Planning, someone slipped in and shot me while I was shitting, I snap back

Panicked and nearly careen into the next car but I course correct

In every sense, I shake my head and slap my cheeks, breath intense

God knows what held back that energy, the road melting, I cut across

With no apologies, I kiss the cross wobbling on the car’s crossbeam

I see clearly now such scenes heretofore unseen, a screen of mist recedes

All Easter’s sigil writ, candlethousands in vigil repose, a virgin ivorytower rose

I rose phoenix from the ashes, Egypt all black as the Nile is dragged back

Righted finally, I was a turtle on my back, now I am righteous robed in finery

The fire inside me kindled thus rose higher than ere before, new zenith

New records to upset, new levels to correct and set, I met death

On the western edge of heaven’s leant light, a slight evernight crag

Selvedge of sylvan scene, scant trees stunted grew, ash and magma

Rock and bog and gulley and treacherous bluff, harsh slate which stabs at

One’s feet hatefully, climes which make one disdain having eyes

Defiled places, wild since the times of the wise ancients, raven

Loud fortresses defaced and much debased, hidden face of former form

Former prowess, a storm louder than any other which never abated

Once stately, a lawn of makepeace with mazes for lovechasing, chaste lovemaking

Grail quests concluded here, in this perilous place, bones from the once-great

Like props upon a stage at equal length marked all the way

Feasting halls with walls psychedelic with wild tapestry

Now roosting places of lapwings and bats, no singing no tankards rattling

No bard sat with raptured audience, speaking of warriors in tabards

Lopping arms off bandits and baddies, only rats on rafters

The quarrels of bitter phantoms, no bonnie lass, no keen laddie

Running after trying to make his pass, no more the hound and his master

Will remain awake until after the Lord has left, a shattered frame

Where once in stained glass the chivalrous ways were conveyed

A miasm hides the flags, no man breathing lasts long here

Gaseous gyres throng the open air ceiling

Living and undulate this alchemical vapour, capable of ending

Life quicker than a brigand’s knife when the prize is high

When the carriage you held up carried a king’s soon-bride

Her jewels were nice but her price is in her life

What price will fetch a king’s heart’s delight?