THE MIDLANDS

In an otherwise green field. A black stump

smouldering in a circle of burn. Land

near Doncaster flat enough to make visible a parallel

realm where that thing hasn’t happened. The science

of original laws excludes it. Purpose-built

is the mainline from which the long view hastens

counter to the middle distance, and purpose-

built the middle distance, its fences,

hedgerows, ancient oaks lending perspective,

foreground at high speed a series of precise

and irrecoverable losses. Warmbloods, spirits

of immediacy, graze margins of the River Don

heeding its true course through the realities.

They speak plainly. The lie must be inside you.