an everyman's journey into bodily, mental, emotional and spiritual states of being...
'...a fine imaginative account of how we discover and cope with (or not) the mysteries of existence. Beautifully measured poems, they, too, deserve the attention of all those who appreciate good poetry... All I can say is, "Buy it!" It will join Vuyelwa [Carlin]'s collection on my shelves as one of my most valued poetry books.' Kevin Bamford Borderlines #25
John the Explorer Ventures into Bodily States (4)
Pain is reptilian.
A blunt-tailed skink
sits round-nosed in the head,
is a squatting ache that
allows no thought.
Sciatica is an alligator
forefeet outspread across
the back edge bowl of
the hips; while its long snout
presses maliciously
grinning into the nape.
Panic
of a heart murmur
is the skittering
of a lizard's
fingered feet.
Backwards through the gut
a viper coils,
scales catching
at every crease
and turn.
Pulling faces
John's writhing
seeking ease
mimics
the reptile
inside.
Excerpt
Stones and pages
must be turned over:
John has a need to know.
The face of all worlds
must be questioned,
bland
electric wires
must be touched. Once.
The green-black ivy berry tasted.
Once.
The woman's smiling invitation
accepted. Once.
The man's challenge...
Once.
John has to know
what lays beyond
the blue shield of day,
behind the few words
that are spoken.
John has to be more than
bumped-about victim
of his circumstance:
John has to know
why he needs to know:
John has to explore.
NOW AVAILABLE!
This book is a limited edition, and copies are hand numbered. It will NOT be available through Amazon or other distributors. You must purchase it directly from the author or from this site. It is hard-back (not the spiral bind seen
Questions, unquestioned discoveries, and answers in parable and rhyme…. This collection records a journey starting with a 1960s retrospective and the first man on the moon, moving to a new millennium welcomed in with a terrorist spin, family crises,
