Alchemisland

Burnt out cars, gouged out eyes Buildings bombed to scale model size Meal-blackening heat drove one survivor from a bunker Outside he was immediately carbonised Flies now in great droves descend to the bodies site “It will be OK, child” A merciful mother lies Everywhere death, everything demise A second sun, brighter, then all light…

Sat at table’s head, with an ahem and an amen Abou Ben Adhem retired to bed at meal’s end Steps his head so perfectly mapped he could traipse lampless unscathed On the bedside chest the Lathe of Heaven laid to rest Medals twenty the Lady of Heaven heavy against his chest His pillow he found…

A massive explosion shakes the classroom  Clocks judder, blocks scatter, pictures clatter Valley peoples scattered like dead man’s ashes  No more this slow, placid time of asking.

Incision above the cloud’s beltline Sky colour bleached limes, a no-patch cow  Sun gut peeking out Enough sun, it’s petering out now Black rabbit souls, those ash clouds  Sounds of armies clashing High up in the mountain passes Staining the glaciers The sun went out forever Like a hobo.

A great black basking shark  Circles the Blasket at night Invisible in the his-eye dark  Only those who bear the mark  Can sell and bring their goods to market.