"FACINGFACES 2002 - 04" SELECTED POETRY

DANCING AROUND THE FLAMES

He returns from the land of the gods
white petals shower the paved courtyard
bass thumps through closed doors
wispy smoke trails around freshly
washed clothes
Nerves once sleeping stand at attention,
Keys and pin codes, lock it all up,
yes, scum, yes, fuck me, yes, selfish bitch
its only a vase, a new plaster wall

A six foot raging inferno,
sixteen, going on two

Sweep up the glass and rest before he wakes.....



MY FEAR

punch it husband
drill it dentist
invade its house thief
shove it to the ground son

that’s not fear
Mine goes something like this,


Gremlins swirl. Slowly at first,
circling their way up in a menacing fashion,

they swoop in a frenzied haze,
giddiness, confusion....internal chaos erupts choking the air from pipes

the cogs dry up completely as the engine spasms violently,

The rhythm is gone
a blinding tidal wave sweeps through,


I'm dying! hurry up and kill me or make it stop, please help me...
sweaty palms reach out,
as the whole thing collapses


Whimpering and rattled
the attacks continue,
random and unexplainable
the dreaded monster returns to
wreak havoc again and again
and again and Not Again!!

Run that red light,
leave that concert,
flee the meeting,


must avoid
must avoid
must avoid

old ladies shuffle up the street
invalids in wheelchairs roll by
my children walk to school

A tidy package of terror
wrapped in a pretty face
safe at home for now,
you’re ok, it only hurts me
Its my problem..my fear
everything else is a joke



Carlene Parianos
Australia
copyright 2002