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.
