POETRY: Annabel Banks – Classical Escalation

Classical Escalation

Zeus
has only
caught me once.
I say only, for tally
ups of all his attempts
suggest that’s pretty good—

to only once be invaded
like that. Struck, yes. Hassled,
chased—once around a washing
line in a garden. I have never been so
Diana-fleet—later had my clothes undone
as I stood in the street, bra pinged, been groped
in buses and tubes and taxi queues. Once, in a club,

he waved his cock, almost friendly, another time followed
me as he wanked. I nipped in the kebab shop to call the cops,

on different days he’s propositioned, or pandered, or cajoled,
Slammed me against walls, my wrist so tight it bruised the bone
when I twisted free. Even at work I wasn’t safe: heard him whisper
lovely bouncing tits as I ran to the clocking-in machine. Almost too late.
He’d pinned me to a table, my stomach muscles, wrenched from my escape,
hurt for weeks. Handed me a joint spiked with a trip –you’d better stay with me—
then trapped me in so many rooms, those different backs against different doors,
smiling that invitation and challenge—just a kiss—but yes, he only caught me once,
when I was passed out on a bed, sick with wine, waking to find myself full of bad god
transforming. But only once. Which is pretty good. When you think of the effort he’s put in.

 

Check out Annabel Banks’ Website.

Find Annabel on Twitter: @annabelwrites

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POETRY:IN NATURE – Victor Paalvast

In nature it becomes clear
that we don’t need
that which we hold dear
cars, clothes, and money
are things all people desire
but clinging to them isn’t funny
best course would be to throw them on the fire
let them burn
and feel your world turn
things we think we need
all dictated by greed.

In nature it becomes clear
that we don’t need
those people we hold so dear
mothers, fathers, and loves
all as innocent as doves
but when attachment gains hold
the heart grows cold
with humanity paying the cost
when Universal Love is lost.

In nature it becomes clear
that we don’t even need
this Self we hold so dear
goals, dreams, and desires
these do not fuel the Soul’s fires
so forget all worldly aims
don’t seek after fortunes and fames
rather look inside yourself
and increase your spiritual wealth
tap into divine bliss
and discover Life as God’s eternal kiss.

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D. R. JAMES – THE USUAL, PLEASE, ON CRACKED WHEAT WITH MAYO

The Usual, Please, on Cracked Wheat with Mayo The tanned woman in the Midwest deli yesterday re-convinced me I’m superficial. Not that I needed re-convincing since regularly I’m the irregular normal person at the international annual convention of practitioners who see things differently. Whenever they feature that multi-humped camel in their closing ceremonial parade shaped […]

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Angela LaVere – 3 POEMS

Chameleon* I’m a Chameleon, Changing my colors to match my surroundings, I’ll make you feel comfortable. * Trauma like armor, I’ll blend in, so you don’t hurt me. * I can tell your mood in your footsteps, the set of your jaw, the tiniest tells; a twitch at the corner of your eye screams danger. […]

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TOM PESCATORE – 5 Years Ago

5 Years ago Remember as the sun set on James island Tired Together Fading into the coming nightAnd how after heading back to our camp An old man to show the pictures he had taken of Our silhouettes together encircled by Fiery dusk How he asked for our emailsIn effort to send the photos to […]

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