by Edward Lee
WE AS OUR ENDINGS
My skin closed
around the tip of your knife,
almost as fast
as it had parted,
surprising you so much
your hand slipped from the hilt
and you stumbled back
and fell off the edge of the cliff
I had been pushing you towards
across the length of our lifetime,
my blood on your hands, but
only for a moment, before
the ocean into which you fell
washed it all away.
DAY OR NIGHT
A sky of sharp tongues
crowded the sun today,
slicing its rays
with knowing words,
depriving the pale-skinned humans
who worship
whomever seems
to deserve worship
at any given time,
all options covered,
offering prayers
without moving their limbs,
lips sown shut
like a joke told
at the expense of everyone,
even the speaker, even
those last to laugh.
A sky of sharp tongues
crowded the sun today,
while, later, the moon
will fair no better,
nor will those unable
to see in the dark.
****
Edward Lee's poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen, The Blue Nib and Poetry Wales. His poetry collections include A Foetal Heart, Bones Speaking With Hard Tongues, To Touch The Sky And Never Know The Ground Again and The Heart As Dust Lost In The Wind.
He also makes musical noise under the names Ayahuasca Collective, Orson Carroll, Lego Figures Fighting, and Pale Blond Boy.
His blog/website can be found at https://edwardmlee.wordpress.com