Stuart McPherson - Two Poems
Content Warning: death, violence, abuse
Belly Pork
Hit the age of reason with a stick. Feel the welts form, a
humpback bridge.
​
Over water spilt on instruction, and abridged. Of mechanics
mistaking Rorschach then
​
for the silhouette of man mismatched. The carcass of a horse.
​
A boy skipping stones into a mother's mouth who spits them
back.
​
Remorse for a dawn that never arrives. Its father zipped away
in the blackness of a bag, strikes
​
the age of reason with a belt. Deprives it of food, sees its pink
belly bloat.
​
A scabrous moon peeps a ridge. Spears a boar that bleeds.
Pours testosterone. Unexpectedly becomes a suckling pig.
Disappointed Moon Poem
Your rise & fall
of light, less heat
​
Asthmatic chest
squeezing dirt
​
Of time drawing
in its air
​
Axis calibration
The spoils of war
​
Crude oil on a
gull's wing
​
Of negligence or
endless tides
​
This sadness of
pale porcelain
​
Spins slowly
The hanging nail
​
hooked
on ruptured fear
​
To dying mothers
Father figures
​
unable to outwit
gravity’s leash
​
Oh poor moon
Your seas
​
are showerless
Spilling tears
​
Its rocks & dust
trail ridges
​
Helpless as
an orbit
​
Your magnolia
cheeks
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Stuart McPherson is a poet from Leicester in the United Kingdom. His work has appeared in Beir Bua Journal, After the Pause, Selcouth Station, Osmosis Press and The6press. His debut pamphlet ‘Pale Mnemonic’ was published in April 2021 by Legitimate Snack/Broken Sleep Books. His pamphlet ‘Water Bearer’ will be published in December 2021 by Broken Sleep Books. His work explores the impact of family dysfunction and trauma upon ‘norms’ of masculinity and encourages an open dialogue and openness around this this subject. You can find him via twitter @theeabsentee or via his website www.theeabsentee.com
Artwork: richard iii and the church of our mothers by JW Summerisle
JW Summerisle lives in the English East Midlands. Their poetry & artwork can be found in Resurrection mag, Catatonic Daughters, The Madrigal, SAND, & Re-Side. They may sometimes be found on twitter @jw_Summerisle