Burning in the Fires of Orc
William Blake is stalking me. I wish it was
John Clare, but the city works in wheels
and puts me down in the prophet’s shadow
and night descends in flaming lampshot dark.
I find myself at his door, see him sketching
Satan, and I’m keen for bed but there’s
so much London and Blake turns it
turns it his eyes staring out Poland Street
Fountains Court Leicester Fields Peckham Rye
South Molton Street For the angels in the tree
for God in Broad Street, I – but this
is his illuminated stretch after me, me
escaping what gave him strength,
hurrying for the bus. Blake forgive me
the spirits are still, I wheel no further
than knowing the stops, a pattern for
the great peace of transport. Take me from
Albion’s complaint: I’m stepping out
for light regions, Beulah. Kiss me Will,
release me. Here I’m not whole. Let me sleep.
South Molton Street
Lips with his name.
He holds a match to the window.
Beautiful lips.
He draws a line for them to cross.
He draws steadily.
At street level, someone gains access
scatters coins
brings in photocopiers.
He draws
himself crawling from the river.
Lips in the sand.
He has drawn the roads
built since he was born.
Lips at the window
beautiful.
There are people in the lamps below
passing kisses
coffee breath.
He holds a match to the window.
Lips with his name.
• Mark Leech has two chapbooks out, London Water from Flarestack Publishing and Saint and City from Erbacce Press. “London Water is the result of double journeys – on foot and psychological – along five of the city's lost rivers, near whose course I lived during various emotional phases of my life in London. All the rivers were at least pastly piped underground and built over during the 19th century. Saint and City groups together two sequences and related poems: St Frideswide and the men she blinded walk the roads of modern Oxford; the narrators of ancient Saxon poems speak from city underworlds; legends come true on street corners. Everyday experience meets the unexpected, and their contact provokes passions and apparitions, and intense, adventurous poetry. Both are available by contacting me at www.markleechpoetry.com “
