Secret Whispers

 

Infinity

—Painting by Randy Barnes

 —Poetry by Jay Simpson, Perth, Australia

—Public Domain Visuals
Courtesy of Jay Simpson

 

 

INFINITY

Public destruction executioners chorister’s
heads held low
armies of citizens trolls’ infernos bow-legged
politicians social media
winners losers righteousness smoke clutters
skies
deadly disorders drunk assailants pass out on
the floor
manifestos red carpets trip the entourage
of fools
medical emergencies big guns in town friendly
fire absurdity
time to assemble push through the backlog
death the goal the premium
scramble for cover warring continues flags
held high take a view
national anthems horrorful dirges fuel the fire
the infinite

 

 

 

 Empty Carousels
—Painting by Robert Motherwell

EMPTY CAROUSELS

Phony tears altered genes parasols drag
queens
faux pas paranoia tricksters selling gullibles
buying
opera houses rusty sails sea rising redemption
pending
evangelicals’ flying carpets peace prize
wartime
empty carousels flag poles cars racing words
fumbling
elaborate embroideries silver chalices
mornings empty days begin
tomorrow’s scheme cries for help
solitary confinement the solution hope a
distant trance

 

 

 

 

Heady Moments

—Painting by Hannah Höch

HEADY MOMENTS

Lost world heightened shame satire offering
comic relief
blacked realities promises abused memories
caught in deceit
planned holidays left by the sea memorials
delivered with eulogies
driverless machines lead the way tombstones
inscriptions poetic sighs
the cat swallows the bird and the wire
electricity buzzes world’s on fire
multiple bombshells panic attacks museums
hospitals sodden bars
religious stoners dance around in healing
circles for the lost and found
alcoholic visions obfuscation explanations lost
in translation
heady moments successful raids trigger ticker-
tape parades

 

 

 

 Futility
—Painting by Jackson Pollock

FUTILITY

Lands far away oceans rushing back and forth
close near lost found
spectators playing opinions-imposed history
removed from the archive
emptied suitcases drug paraphernalia orgies
books love
cries for help bespoke ideas malls fondling
their merchandise
secret whispers fog the rearview warm breath
touches the sky
elegant fixtures decorate art houses poets hide
behind cellar doors
bite the bullet watch the killers read the
heartless commentary
music drowns out the noise not the hate not
the death
innocents follow the flowing stream the forest
the constant dream

 

 

 

 Sacred Silence
—Sculpture by Rayner Hoff

SACRED SILENCE

Amble down the carpeted aisle sideway glances
holy enemies
watch the prayers kneeling, rosaries dangling
between their legs
whisper into the confessional, priest man
smiles promises
spill the beans swallow the host try the
vintage wine
body and blood heroin infusion needle rests
against the font
stations full of tired homeless leaving their
bread and wine behind
fading into dangerous miasmas counting the
trains as they pass
miracles live in halfway houses children
overfill refuges
scrutiny leaves behind the outrage, pebbles
smooth underfoot
tyranny smiles in lonesome chapels, fire
brigades wander around
news reports deaths abound, point towards
the setting sun
style the morning unblemish the curse slip
into something pretty
slip into your neighbourhood

__________________

Today’s LittleNip:

Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.

—Franz Kafka

__________________

Newcomer Jay Simpson was born in Sydney, Australia, and moved to Perth, Western Australia in 2011. She worked as an English, Drama and Music Teacher for many years in schools, TAFE and the University of Newcastle. Jay has been published in a number of online magazines and journals, most recently in Lothlorien Poetry Journal; Fevers of the Mind; Voices from the Fire Anthology (Dumpster Fire Press); The Writer’s Club; Horror Sleaze Trash; Ukraine: The Night and the Fire; and Bedroom Anatomy Lessons (Dumpster Fire Press). She is currently working on her book to be published in 2024.

Jay loves poetry, art, music, satire and black comedy. She also loves recording and reading poetry publicly. She is the Creative Director and Author at 'LivingDangerously'. Welcome to the Kitchen, Jay, thanks for today’s Ekphrastic poetry—and don’t be a stranger!

__________________

—Medusa

 

 

 

 

  Jay Simpson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For upcoming poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
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 LittleSnake’s Glimmer of Hope
(A cookie from the Kitchen for today):

black stallion’s
shiny coat
carries starlight
wherever he goes~