They’re shooting pigeons up in the air
shooting wild boar berserk in the woods,
they sway in the corn with their rifles loaded
aim with the warm red wine in their veins
shoot their leader in the foot
shoot their neighbour on the shins
…
Narcissus
He buttoned up his leaf jacket
soaked his shoes in brine
laced them up with marigolds
snatched a hat of sundrenched hay
sprinkled it with buttercups
broak a branch from the willow tree
strode along the track spread out by the moon
…
House of Shells
(illustration by French artist Christine Chamson)
He came washed up, limbs wavering
shells caught in the net of his Sargasso hair
the glint of the sea lodged in his eye
the roar of its jubilance caged in his ear.
His mouth was a cavern of wo…
Desert Hyena
He asked to be forgiven
clutched his head with worn-out fingers
clean white nails filed evenly
moon-shaped….
Ghost Husband
The Chief stands at the head of the table
shaking the eagle claws strung round his neck
the bear teeth and quills fixed on his belt,
rustles the seal bones strapped round his wrists
then casts his eyes to his daughter-bride Nashawa
-
…