THE LATE SKY SCREAMS by David Erdos - Poem 23 from THE PEOPLES PRISON

 Poem 23 from THE PEOPLES PRISON

THE LATE SKY SCREAMS

 

 

The wind is tearing now at the year, as if wanting

It to be over; a gale, or God outburst much like

Our own, fury fed, at all the year’s seen

In terms of machinations and riot, and all

That it hasn’t, such as this invisible hand pulling

At us, as if the growing graves and nigh’s numbers

 

Were the choice alone of the dead. Outside,

The wind stereos, louder than any music I’m playing.

The growl of God, or the Devil, or the ancient earth

Overturned, uprooting rosebush, even tree,

So virulent does it appear to be across virus

 

That I would fear standing in it, unless this wild

Beyond had me spurned. The storm raging now

Would shatter teacup and kettle. It is both tide

And tantrum, as if the ocean itself were pure air;

The special beast that’s been born from the unspent

 

Energies of our prisons, as we watch neighbours

Weaken and hunker down in our holes, the dark

Flares; a hidden light beneath light, revealing

The true speed of darkness, which marks the rate

Of our worry, and of a nightmare’s pace

 

And death’s step, as it closes on us, overturning

Cloud and crescendo. By squeezing the sky,

Withheld forces have made it scream tonight.

The moon’s wept. I can make it out, just,

Pixelated by the motion of veil and of shadow

 

And of the startled branches made black,

By winter resumed, after a Christmas Day carved

By sunshine. Freshly transposed now to show us

That just when we thought everything was safe

In our houses, everything outside of the house

 

Now attacks. Is it a warning, this wind,

Or a requiem for the chaos. I can feel the chill

Through the front door, as I sit in my lounge

Writing this. On December 31st just beware

And wary my friends what you wish for.

 

The entire street rattles.

The bungalow stoops.

The knife twists.  

 

 

 

 

David Erdos, December 27th 2020 2am 

 

For more poems from David Erdos visit The Corona Diaries collection 

David Erdos is an actor, writer, director with over 300 professional credits. He is a published poet, playwright, essayist and illustrator. He has lectured on all disciplines in theatre and film for leading performing arts colleges, schools and universities around the world. His books include EASY VERSES FOR DIFFICULT TIMES, THE SCAR ON THE CLOUD, OIL ON SILVER, NEWS FROM MARS, CHANGING PLACES WITH LIGHT (penniless press) and BYZANTIUM with the photographer Max Reeves. He is a contributing editor for The International Times and maker of documentaries all over the world. David’s work has been acclaimed by many leading figures including Harold Pinter, Heathcote Williams, Alan Moore, Andrew Kotting, Chris Petit and Iain Sinclair in whose recent book THE LAST LONDON, David features. He can be reached at David.erdos@sky.com.

David Erdos

©    David Erdos has asserted his moral rights as author of his work and has full copyright.