Reposed in Flight by Ned Baeck
by Steven McCabe
Basement bright with skin
shows dark, rapt faces.
They hold him
in their hearts and brains.
Someone whispered the world
is not worth becoming evil for –
On the ceiling, which is the maiden mother’s floor,
they pound, and pause, and pound again.
Blood pulsing in their fists,
the pierce of loathing under their ribs.
In a shadowed mezzanine
below the conscious mind,
they gnaw on river fish,
direct you to the wrong people,
put glitter in their eyes,
control the atmosphere,
arrange stillborn thoughts in old places.
Later they will say you brought down
the old, dull, rusted sword
with your own hands – and you did –
on the samovar that hid her hand
and the bed where she bared herself.
Motionless,
bird reposed in flight,
love for whose sake everything, murderous
and merciful, is done –
It’s so quiet now,
vouchsafed to a world of sullen depravity,
a few crumbs of dust for the broom.
The true operation of your mind – follow it –
Ned Baeck lives in Vancouver.
His poems have recently appeared in untethered, The Continuist and Sewer Lid.
His first full-length collection of poems is forthcoming from Guernica.
fine job
Thanks!
Welcome back Steven, you were missed. These prints are astounding, truly handsome work.
Thank you John. Nice to see you again also!
A powerful progression of pieces for Ned’s poem, Steve. How the repose
with its evocative mobility culminates in the dynamic light-image at the close– “The true operation of your mind — follow it — “
Thank you Elana for these thoughts about the interaction of text & image and how the poem’s movement relates to the title. What a great line the poet chose to end the poem!
Yes, this is a fine last line to a haunting poem, a lightening into freeness —
as I see it. And your images are a very
compelling accompaniment.
Very much enjoyed working with the compelling imagery in this poem – the feelings, the thoughts, the trajectory!
Hi Steve, the progression of images sits right or moves right or however it would be said. They are beautiful. Thank-you
Thank you very much Ned. I enjoyed getting to know this fine poem! Congratulations on your new book, I’m sure it will be great & I very much look forward to reading your collection.
This is great, rekindles meditations of mythology.
Thank you for your observation Philip.
Much welcome Steve.