By Les Wicks. This poem is part of our December 2012 and January 2013 focus on Asylum Seekers.
This one is
or is called
a witch perhaps. So she disappears, her
only trick.
Why travel? No home, (an inflexible, judged word –
foolhardy for any to claim) but she was there
a tough demountable equivalent.
Some can’t tell the difference
up close
under torture your
head beneath a cruel, clean pond.
Her skin is her bag
& now flag.
Great western wings weigh down the air. Oddly cold
her fingers clutch documents they are
a calumny of prayers against
labile ink suspicious eyes.
Fear the war cry of these new clerks.
Given enough time
(that’s a story).
The teacher & a cash register.
Some piteously
bright future. Which is taken
we’ll all be surprised.
Les Wicks has toured widely and seen publication in over 250 different magazines, anthologies & newspapers across 16 countries in 9 languages. His 10th book of poetry is Barking Wings (PressPress, 2012).
