Canto of the Struck

Percussion, detonation, abruptness

of wood cracking: fire, so cold

snap; tactile introject, as dowel

breaks in its plug, never clean off,

tatters and strands, jags and daggers,

glass dropped on tiles, a book;

intratelluric anticipation: to plant

a brace of sheoaks along the driveway,

hoping for others’ ancestors

to speak to us? Validate?

Snap lock, lever action,

bolt driven home: collapse

of reredos where we worshipped,

kids playing up in the huddle of pews;

clasp of Bible: titubation from weekend’s

tension, tremulous window: you don’t

write out faultlines and move on…

worshippable tenderised metal,

staring out at crows on dead trees:

twisters of faith, over-identified

to take us out in that impact

so sickly-sweet, drawn out: zoanthropy.

Percussion, detonation, abruptness,

rush out on all fours, wind

in fur, jowls slopping, teeth bared.

Crack, smash, shatter: exasperate.

Hands shape to brace the face

when the damage mitigates

through knees: prayer-shaped

to fall less further than taxonomy.