more mythical beasts

After the apparent popularity of the two splendid beasts in my previous post, I looked through my files to see if I had any more.

Not only is this an impressive animal, but I’ve even found a poem that mentions unicorns to post with it. I am shocked, though, to realise that I wrote it nine years ago and I have done nothing with it.

I really did mean to spend this August sorting out some older work to submit to magazines and competitions, but the days flash by with little to show for them. Still, publishing this piece here will get it out to a small readership, at least.

Noctambulation

    I watch black beetles dart while choirs
of skylarks glorify the dawn and shreds
    of mist braid chimney-stacks and spires
        in yellowing frills.

    I’ve walked the sheeptracks of your dreams
in search of unicorns, but they have fled.
    Now they graze where honey flows in streams
        through pillowing hills.

    The cropgrass scratches soulbear feet,
and each blade wounds. Too much is left unsaid:
    I choke on words made bittersweet
        from swallowing pills.