Archives :: Alison Eastley
Is the World Really Brown?
Appeared in the Spring and Summer 2005 issue.
To predict the two year old boy next door
has reincarnated the world a rainbow is better
than fresh bruises although the shades of blue on day
three can be pretty before waking to a green
not the same as 'nature', 'innocence' or 'spring';
it's as clear as gin without concerns swirling in the bath,
the one you sit in fully clothed wishing for a blanket
and a pillow to hide getting out would be the same as shit
or spew missing the toilet bowl if the next victim slips,
cracks his head sparkling mythical aches like Jupiter's
before vision turns into a naked woman,
the one thrown over the shoulder of unsuspecting
mistakes not paying attention to her far-away
gaze, she moans about not being able to move,
he thinks she's had a stroke, will phone an ambulance
and forgets to shut the bedroom door so people
walking by notice sleeping beauty sprawled and sleep
is not the same as the colour of a cross bow after tequila
slamming with a house full of teenage boys comatose
and cranky, he lines them up, is going to shoot
and they're shivery cold sober thinking the colour
of the world is an arrow through the chest
until a woman walks in, talks tenderly as a lover
and nothing happens: it's foolish to think headlines
change when a party fetches fish net with nipples
exposing the world is pink until she laughs
a Roman orgy applause so ancient
he decides he prefers to be alone
without her knowing the colour of the world
is a credit card stolen and all her money too.
View bio information and additional poems published in Half Drunk Muse on the author's main archive page.
Copyright 1999-2009 Alison Eastley.