By Steve Sneyd
guards as hen egg
geode cave
all spikes up
and down
of gold drink-cups
silver helmet emerald
swords
won't hatch
to death
to join the old king
in the same
treasure eyed mound.
*
None-Ridden Wings
By Steve Sneyd
Darkness permits brief
sight,
Revelation slicing
ice-rose rim
about full moon, drake-star;
Kronos-Time shrugs,
make-unmaking was
Every thing, chaos-perfecting
claw.
(Appeared in Dragon Chronicle #13)
*
The Worm of Wharncliffe
By Steve Sneyd
He is one thousand and
seven
years old he would
appreciate
he would welcome he
is starved for
a dedication on the
local radio
he is wrinkled he is
sightless
eyes ears mouth have
long sunk
into the white coil
of flesh
no longer do any visit
The forest cross the
mere
enter the castle descend
the steps
come to his chamber
his dungeon
entertain him feed
him enlarge him
all all is long gone under the coalslag
(First published in
Thirteen 6.3 April 1988
and in Coal City Review
#5)
*
Last Look, Granddad's
Place
By Steve Sneyd
pluck off floor severed
toenail crescent
clung among mouseballed
tracks, infrag feed, dulleye dirt --
held opalshine against
grime-crack window face,
catch in smallness
throughlight silver, twist as if new hurt --
wonder to see fine self
reflection in such opaque-look shred;
turn round and turn
from dull ray-gate to caster of shadowspurt --
seems to take silhouette
I knew and place on wall between
paler where dead great
and great-great holes were and
plunges place back to
live-here use: as if bites hurl
man-cuticle remain
back onto floorcoat feet-sticker
time to move, go --
rush out, not even shutting unfitting
plasweed door and eyeholed
screen still last pale ions
of insectcution power
and curt as fear "Good-bye" into
black door mouth and
off in hours yet to depart queue but
so much could go wrong
or tumbleweed trip break leg and
make forever and eyeprickle
surely in grit in breeze hotter'n
still air is never for
world had childhood once and
mustn't forget cover
up cover eyes head all against
dull heavy horrid near-nova
sunshine girds dump
must cut all dead web
strands hold to leaving Home for good.
*
Given Access to the
DNA
By Steve Sneyd
long ship of bones clung
under
museum Ceiling now
would've worn
crystal-plumed wings
fireclaw tongue
will spearhead first
furious vast
planned patrol over
storm of Jupiter
reborn with the promise
for obedience
service be let return
to Earth
safe said we're sure
will never
survive task of impossible
we set
no more than scientists
believe
rode comet down to
reach us once
(Appeared in The Dragon Chronicle)
*
Translucent as Young Eyes
by Steve Sneyd
Stumbling
homeward from bar
Traherne sees through
snow in
air child floating
smile as wide as night
of flame
Saw and
could not touch not
save extinguish fire
wept and went helpless
home to dream
divine
Child goes
on ever on
through time through
place wrapped wars
in tongues red-gold
will never burn
sees all
At home
all every where
voyages always safe
in womb in native element
drake's egg
(Appeared in The Dragon Chronicle)
.
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.
2000