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By Peter Devonald
(Twitter and Instagram: @petedevonald)
—RED OR BLUE PILL?—
skewered view of the world
decades of medication shape the landscape
every view jaded and confused by misleading
pharmaceutical mixtures of unknown cocktails
impossible ingredients with strange names and stranger origins
from manufactured faraway places
altering, changing and manipulating
sucking every profit out of delirium
the falsity of it all, the blank bleak falsity
medication to blank minds and swell bank balances
write blank cheques to blank canvass
the fog of unknowing
hollow cavities of lives
vacuum of emotions
this antidepressant dream
stultifying and stupefying
deadening and dulling
weakening resistances
calming thoughts with pillow over mouth
holding reality down
soften and silence the world
simplify, sugar coat with spoonful’s of sugar to make
the world go down
such simple easy visions
complexity and confusion eased like quicksand
into the bath of unknowing
soak, soothe, numb
don’t think, don’t ever think
slip into sleep
lullabies weep
—BEYOND THE BRIDGE—
Angels turn inwards
wings implode with crossed arms and broken hearts
deep thoughts and deeper sighs
what has the world become?
What has the world become?
Dark desires fly whilst goodness drops to knees
shredded with hopeless dreams
torso feels like concrete despair
cement fuelled lungs writhe with misery
aching longing limbs
exhausted by it all:
How long can you fight
the sirens sing
sleep the sleep that new horizons bring.
Aeolian winds blow harsh tonight
moaning and sighing sounds
eroding and demanding
weakens even soundest hearts.
The weary world won't miss you
sleep, sleep, eternal sleep.
Torrential rain gutters flood.
See the universe in your reflection
in the window of wind and storm
look beyond and see the trees
statuesque and all-knowing
blowing against the winds of time
survive, survive, survive
the mantra to it all.
All our strength wistfully sings new harmonies:
grow trees for tomorrow you won't see
lay roots for other people's children
focus on a fervid future
you will not be a part of
fashion dreams for others in the shadows
look forward not back.
Build roots for others longing life
maybe they might take the paths you failed to travel
be the person you could have been -
shield and protect them, try and try again
even as the eternal footman shuffles
still time to create, construct and hope
initiate the world you wish you'd lived.
—REFRAIN—
We / could be
so much more / we should be.
The impossible happens
every day / our potential
limitless.
The infinite
in this moment / now
is everything.
We are magicians / dreamers
miracles
in our hands / silhouettes
of trees / the promise
we must / seize.
In the stillness / of the night
sounds / heightened
by silence.
We hear / angels wings / whispering
wondrous / things.
To be lost / in this hour
the most amazing / flower
of opportunities
of this miraculous / enchanted
vibrant / world
are ours / to hold
alone.
About the Author:
Peter Devonald (he/him) is poet in residence at Haus-a-rest, columnist for Culture/ Arts and Heart Of Heatons poetry winner. 55 poems published / forthcoming in 2022 including Artist's Responding to..., Forget-Me-Not Press, Dwell Time Press, Greenhouse, Dear Politicians: Ecopoetry, RIVISTA, Suburban Witchcraft, Sixpence Society, ArtLove02, Dirigible Balloon, Shallot, Spoonie, Substantially Unlimited: Stigma, Bolton Breakdown and Wishbone Words.
Manchester based, Peter runs monthly poetry challenges for Heaton/ Cheadle/ Didsbury Post.
5 group shows including Tender Stems, Chronically Online Culturable Layered Onion.
Featured Poetic Map of Reading. 50+ film awards, former mentor Peter Ustinov Awards (iemmys) and Children’s Bafta nominated. www.scriptfirst.com
Y0u can find him at:
Instagram @peterdevonald
Twitter @petedevonald