here she comes, the Pythia
crabbed hands fused
to a narrow pair of follicles
[of no precise origin]
halts at the side of the gorge
cramps over her swollen abdomen –
her floral tube vomiting blood
[riverbed toxin
tolerates drought & inundation]
starts up again on trembling stalks
batting off ghosts
[narrow therapeutic index
heals nothing/nectars nothing]
eyes weeping milky sap
skin charred and scorched
[poisonous when ingested
can kill a man or horse]
YOUCAMEFORAPROPHECY DIDN’TYOU
dogsbane breath
her macerated stench
the feathery corolla at her mouth
flecked with bloodied spit
her voice a waspish bark
LISTEN ICANTELLYOU
EVERYTHINGTHEREISTOKNOW ABOUTBITTERNESS
HOWYOUCANFORCEITDOWN TILLYOUARE
POROUS/POISONOUS/TRANCED
SEIZURES/SEIZURES
HOWMYHEARTBEATSIRREGULAR
HOWTHEWORLDPALESANDFLICKERS
HOWASAGIRL TENDER&EVERGREEN
ISANG BECAUSEILOVEDTHESUN
&THEYWREATHED ME IN FLOWERS
&BROUGHTMEHERE
&TOLDME ITWASHOME
Send Letters To:
The Editor
London Review of Books,
28 Little Russell Street
London, WC1A 2HN
letters@lrb.co.uk
Please include name, address, and a telephone number.
