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from Khodovarikha, Russia to Moscow, Russia
excerpts from An Arbitrary Line
Matchstick World’s
hum, hm?
the generator’s
hum soothes cowled ears.
Slava fiddles with matchsticks
recreating Hyperborea/Cornucopia
the stilted viewing platforms
the sock-muffled gramophone
filling the hut
with oscillations
of Pechoran sea and divine prophesy
the world – a sauna
birch wood strikes
against flesh
bathing in warmth
dry currents desert parents crunch
flightless birds in their steaming swamps
eternal light // pin-prick night
cages but no chickens just cages
a warning in flight
Slava sleeps exposed on the dunes
it’s raining toads
and yoghurt pots (.)
the generator’s
hum soothes cowled ears.
Slava fiddles with matchsticks
recreating Hyperborea/Cornucopia
the stilted viewing platforms
the sock-muffled gramophone
filling the hut
with oscillations
of Pechoran sea and divine prophesy
the world – a sauna
birch wood strikes
against flesh
bathing in warmth
dry currents desert parents crunch
flightless birds in their steaming swamps
eternal light // pin-prick night
cages but no chickens just cages
a warning in flight
Slava sleeps exposed on the dunes
it’s raining toads
and yoghurt pots (.)
Avalonia
Spiral bookcase forming staircase
the tower’s ascent
mist damp cool
water on Slava’s skin
a finger caresses the dust
pages decay
Slava strikes a match
holds it to the shroud.
the tower’s ascent
mist damp cool
water on Slava’s skin
a finger caresses the dust
pages decay
Slava strikes a match
holds it to the shroud.
‘This lake could be
anywhere’ repeats Slava
changing tenses
these waters were once populated
by
isolated man
a heron thumping
a driftwood ballad
speaking in long-lines
of
mysticism
a rockpool elegy a one stone reprieve
leaving behind the tousled Nina
and the flustered Sunday afternoons
before attendance was compulsory
the conclusion
to faith holding hands with doubt
Slava watches the evening and waits
for the yearly melt
as inevitable
as the changing of the skyline
reflected
in lakes, of lakes,
vast open absence
anywhere’ repeats Slava
changing tenses
these waters were once populated
by
isolated man
a heron thumping
a driftwood ballad
speaking in long-lines
of
mysticism
a rockpool elegy a one stone reprieve
leaving behind the tousled Nina
and the flustered Sunday afternoons
before attendance was compulsory
the conclusion
to faith holding hands with doubt
Slava watches the evening and waits
for the yearly melt
as inevitable
as the changing of the skyline
reflected
in lakes, of lakes,
vast open absence
by the lake/ in the lake/ of the lake
glacial foundations mocked
Konstantin fights his corner
up to his shirt sleeves
glacial foundations mocked
Konstantin fights his corner
up to his shirt sleeves
in the rising / lake
Nina plays the riverbank chords
a xylophone minuet of lakes
lakes lakes near lakes eventual lakes
many lakes melting
Nina plays the riverbank chords
a xylophone minuet of lakes
lakes lakes near lakes eventual lakes
many lakes melting
—Sarah Cave
