Founding
these boys have iron bones
forged in foundries
tongues like metal latches
hinged at the shoulders
names clattering clasps on stone
their forefathers knew soot
as dawn light
the trudge & lift of it
worn in their palm lines
bit lips tasting of rust
knew the heart of a furnace
its spilling heat
where sons were cast with ribs
that chimed
their mothers bore deep forests
felt the splintering crash of
falling trees & silence
that settles slowly stories
whispered through lost seams
& breath still misting these
iron boys’ cheeks
Alix Scott-Martin lives and teaches in Rugby. She is a West Midlands Room 204 emerging writer and her work has been published by Magma, Poetry Birmingham, Dodging The Rain and Lighthouse.