Poems by Les Wicks

AVAST

Their barque was launched in a swamp
with fiddlers & wine in real bottles.

Potted politicians & public barflies paraded
down that street leading to the bones of a jetty.

The crew was long dead, bled into
the scrimshaw of atrocity but still...

They tried for pirate
ended up minor demons.

Could only set sail when the winds kicked up
their minds literally blown, out to the coast.

Every captain should have their lover
to share each other’s holes, buried treasure

was always about flesh.


STILL, LIFE

Floods
random
or not.
Then a ruthless dry
with its banjo & scythe.

The infection of morning
as professionals drive in
to read strangers’ minds. Counselling.

Tim reckons let’s be real
feelings are weeds
most are judiciously plucked or wither
before their bitter fruits can ripen.

We collectively have many
reasons to be cheerful.          But.
So. We made this world in our image,
shepherds of discord.

The time of our lives
the tire of our lives —
my garden is so cluttered with dieback
it mistakes this for purpose.