Slant
for Joe Massey

wind
wrung
leaves un-

weighted,
unravel

…

day light clears heather
frayed fast along track
through spoil

…

in honeysuckle
light

cat piss
woven
            slantly

…

black bird thrown back a-
gainst
cold guttering
sky

…

snatch of
sun be-
neath
buzzard
hung
         light

…

wind
cracking
black branches
back,

rough gusts,

troughs, slack-

            — John Phillips (© 2009)



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