Lacewing views oblivion
In the dew- planeted threads
of Charlotte’s house
the waves wish to be iced
the shores wish to be warm
the longest local road is a frozen Styx
and the raven thinks he’s Charon
carrying black the carrion-bird
cackles a claxon
for the silent maelstrom of emergencies
craneflies waltz in cathedrals of frost
sharpening the transient
infinities of mucus
in winter
the postman delivers gulls
disemboweled on the thorns of slow trauma
in winter
the policemen place live coals in their boots
which throb like the eyes of a baby
cold and cribbed and quacking
in a chemist’s dripping doorway
in winter
the cows gather in grey hollows
to tell tales of terror
their dreams of bolt-guns
conveyor- belts,the smiling of knives
and the rumble of exhaust
in winter
things kill
other things
this winter gives
.
Niall Griffiths
.