AN ABC OF POETRY

Illustrations by REBECCA DRAISEY
Poem by JAMIE REID

A is for apple, that round shining sphere of all knowledge stuck in the throat of Adam along with his ale. Ael is earthforlich.

B is for butterfly that circles round that tree, a leaf taking flight, a rebuke to all human belief.

C is for culture, a poisoned and depthless, deathless well.

D is for death that driving and depriving force of all forces.


E is for everything, which clamours for inclusion.

F is for flying, a recent invention, a dream of the centuries.


G is for the grain you hold in your palm, and grind in your teeth.

H is for help, which all of us lack.


I is for instinct, or for intelligence, or for inspiration, take your pick.


J is for juice. You drink and you drink and there is never enough.

K is for all of the words that begin with the letter C, a block in the throat........K...K...K...



L is for loose, like those leaves which are flying.


M is for mother, for money, for the mare in the meadow.


N is for no, the space from which yes begins.


O is for Open. No more needs to be said.

P is for pleasing, the play of the tongue on the lips and the teeth.


Q is the same as K, except for a breath of wind at the end...... kww, kww, kww

R is for raiment, the garment worn by the sky at night.


S is for simple, the better the better.


T is for Truth, which is not the same as beauty and never was.


U begins no words properly, but is often the sound of pleasure and fear.

          U U U U U U U U U U U



V is for view. Do not leave home without it.

W is for Woman, the source and direction of all verse.


X is a deadly sign. Beyond this sign you must begin to be real.

Y is for you and you only.


Z is for zigzag, for a striped black and white animal, for the name of a magician or a musician.

Graphics by Rebecca Draisey.

Photographs mostly from Morguefile.