THAT MOVE by David Erdos - Poem 3 from AT THE GATES

 

THAT MOVE

 

 

This street fed sidestep still chills and does so now,

More than ever. Venturing out, I bear witness to the denials 

Of those at my side. At my approach, they avoid,

As a decisive act, free from reflex, as every avenue opens

 

And each path and corner crossing grow wider and unable

To breach the divide, an earlier poem THAT LOOK captured

The Coronic expression, but now it’s the body, the entire self

Which has changed. And this from those without masks,

 

While testing the morning air, themed by sunlight,

Except that now there’s no music or familiar melody

Within range. And yet the sad song is still sung as the corrupted

Choruses gather. Wordless within silence, distance’s beat

 

Makes the move that includes a slack swerve from life,

Primed by a kneejerk reaction, that is as reactionary

And as guarded as any tragic history can still prove.

We were not meant to be so. But now, even the soul feels

 

Persuaded. If indeed the soul governs the unsteady state

We’re all in. A place with new borders and fence, and even walls

Walked between us, that none can scale. Soon the climbing

And the need to see above, if not sin – will be a revolutionary act

 

As the height of your house sets out to defines you.

Whether in High Rise, or bunker we will look inwards

As a downcast gaze reveals roles that will be badly written

Just in time for a mishandled denouement, in which

 

As we all make for the exit, this sidestep overwhelms us,

And we are swallowed by shadow as society’s fears

Force a hole. Call it the warmup dance of the dead,

Or, the frenzied shapes carved by chaos, but this slick

 

New groove will be grounded as every movement made

Marks the cage. I came home pretty fast as that growing

Street shudder stalled me. That move damns a disco

In which increasing distance disrupts us as its demands

 

Form a tremor that threatens all freedom

And becomes and describes all the rage.

 

 

David Erdos January 28th 2021

  

 

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.