Collision
They lift me out from the wreckage, slowly
floating in and out of the leavening.
I sit with my back to the wall, sun
just beginning to warm.
Somewhere behind me, the sea slips
fearless into zero hour:
a long glass
emptied and rinsed of its dregs.
Not a sound, just the
tuk tuk tuk of metal relaxing.
The car is slewed to one side, Sweeney-style,
weeping glass into the front of a coach.
All night, this slow erosion of self –
no sleep, in a now-vacant house, pushing up
from bare floorboards,
my spliff stubbed out in a swept grate.
All night, this wish to be tossed out to sea,
voiceless, clean as a bone.
* Jane Holland received an Eric Gregory Award in 1996. She has published five collections of poetry, her first with Bloodaxe, and her most recent – Camper Van Blues (2008) – with Salt Publishing. She edits Horizon Review
Great to be in Ink, Sweat and Tears!
I ought to lose that comma at the end of the first line though. Always useful to see things published, as revision possibilities tend to leap out on me like a tiger from the bushes once it's too late to do anything about them.
Glad I survived. 😉
Jane
'Tis done!
Thanks Jane – it's a great poem xh
Thank you Jane. A super poem. I really love it. You're so inspiring. Thank you very much.
Michelle
xxx