by Helen Ivory | Jan 4, 2015 | 12 days 2014
Flurry Window panes bear the weight of winter snow. Something unseen leaves ice fingerprints on glass. Inside the debris: torn paper hats novelty shrapnel from crackers screwed-up fists of wrapping paper. Carollers sing of birds and gold rings. You twist the...
by Helen Ivory | Jan 3, 2015 | 12 days 2014
So, This Is Christmas Your mouth’s stuffed with tinsel; it bristles in your throat, just as glitter cakes your eyes. Holly scores your forehead and you lose crowns on the secret flaming sixpence. You’re becoming obese: heart’s wreathed in goose...
by Helen Ivory | Jan 2, 2015 | 12 days 2014
Whatever Happened to Cain? (ii) A woman giving birth in the cow byre, her agony loud in the cold night air. All the bedrooms full to bursting I slept out amongst the camels. During the early hours a fall of snow brought silence, giving the lie of...
by Helen Ivory | Jan 1, 2015 | 12 days 2014
New Year Write to me and tell me how you long for snow, the crisp white blank of new beginnings. I’ve watched you, enjoying the poise of waiting, the rough edge of the cusp of it grinding at our skin ’til we’re raw with it....
by Helen Ivory | Dec 31, 2014 | 12 days 2014
December Time of water light. Air and earth light spread so thin and dirty, washes of fishscales autumn skeletons fill the sky and fade. This the sad time. Parents worry their pockets children dredge dreams for real smiles gifted this one day of...
by Helen Ivory | Dec 30, 2014 | 12 days 2014
The Influenza Carol A wreath at every advent calendar door, no room to rest the oxen in my head: I’m fasting to rebuild my stomach floor, and celebrate my crawling out of bed. The spruce is green until the needles drop, its fairy and its lights...
