Eclipse

 

Eclipse

 

From shadows loom

dark sides of moon,

beyond that far cross, it’s black stuff

ripped untimely from her womb.

You’ve glimpsed something

from inside your room,

through glass, gaze upwards

because you are half sick of shadows

as far from stars

as you have ever been –

and you don’t know

what the curse could be

so you strain to see.

Faint the cries of Lee-Ho, Hard-A-Lee,

you knew he wasn’t lying

and is that the shape

of a spinnaker flying?

Surely, it is,

plotting her downward course,

drive solar winds of galloping horse,

then, fair far,

those honest sonsie shapes

eclipse the gibbous’ swollen hump,

and cries of jump,

they say - you thought of Ma;  

wanted to get back there.

In caves of steel,

beneath naked suns, you feel

the crawling breath of something evil,

something wicked this way comes,

a blot, a blight

you should fight

tickles at your neck’s nape –

as Kings, Presidents, Ministers vape,

each sticky-sweet thick flavour

urge subjects all to partake -

push back the boats,

destroy any polystyrene floats,

repel all boarders,

blister her fenders,

dismiss these heaving lines

and rally to the flag boys -

within the shadow of the noise

our arriving celestial brigantine,

carried on sail, contempt of steam -

now go tell Lord Grenville,

that the tide is on the turn,

leave these lands astern:

for here’s all fire to bring them to burn.