From the Vaults: Turns, Twists; Lost Things

Turns, Twists; Lost Things

By Alexandra Seidel

Around the first corner--left--

you find the sylph that governs the western winds

hair and limbs spelling out abandon

the sylph--neither man nor woman--

tells you a story

and half of that is lost on the breeze

another left

and a stone found lying on the ground

plain as onyx or jade

too heavy for your pocket

but warm in your hand

--some stones hold breath or life--

Your third turn is a right

and almost finds you tumbling down a well

set like a grave into the ground

the echo haunts you as you retreat

already lost. You take

another right (which might be left)

and find a beggar, open-handed

squatting there, eyes staring empty

you part with the warm stone

and you go right again

there is a dark cup

brimming with wine

thirst makes you drink (thirst? really?)

Back again and left

scattered peacock feathers on the floor,

and the shed scales of a snake, a leopard's skin

you take the skin and take a right

warm cake awaits

fresh from the oven that you cannot see

baked by no-one, filled; you lick

warm berry juice from your fingers (berry juice? really?)

and then again you turn--right or left, no matter--

and find a bed or a bench or a throne; a hat

or a crown; more warm things

filling your stomach

and the leopard's spots on your skin

and all the walls around you softly closing in

~~~ 

This poem was first published in 2010 by Labyrinth Inhabitant Magazine which is unfortunately a dead market now. If you enjoyed the poem, do click on the woman in white to the right, she'll lead you straight to the Tip Jar. Thanks!