Three Poems by Jonathan Butcher

Retracted Pride

//Back when drizzle of rain, only heard, straight through

failing to break this. That false those statements, 

superiority we attempt, backs straightened with contact,

failing to break this spill over like broken so reliant upon

from rotting barrels.Those faces against grey mass 

of steel the pavements and promises of ill....straight

through the sober minute, they slowly echo toilet

wall, stifle vulgar patch-work in all-consuming flag;

they sit complacent, but we have now all of maintenance,

and float yet refuse, the shop doors to those faces tempting 

fate, each crumbling with mandrakes the cobble stones 

from pollen never redeemable.... weeping wound, that 

hangover soliloquies ring that tears without protest. 

now as dark as feet nimble, mounted tables decades 

was now slowly, brittle as still within homes, those 

flowers and walls recited, faulty ruse dusts over any

uneven by design, that light now basking; finally mastered//

Strewn

Back drop of tire torn green cross roads

splitting horizon, the steel balconies

clamped on orange brick new builds, 

black spray-paint not yet faded over

wood. Circular mud patches, chairs 

strewn heavily; wicker baskets empty

among holes, faded flag of carpet at 

half mast practising indolence; mattered

ends, melted blue plastic seeped out 

through concrete, cracked like lake beds

dry, ash like blue glimmer through twigs, 

brick turret unarmed, tires looped in 

carcasses as yet eviscerated without rot.  

Everything just about questioned outside;

can and bottle, melded aluminium harmony

without melody, warning in splashed yellow; 

excessive voltage.

Smudge of Ash

Embedded within favours

     pressure points in ribs

each finger caught in sharpened 

edges, that reach; muscles struggle

     at  the best of times. 

bulbs remain lit, remotely excusable

pernicious doctrine, related back 

     without haste. 

Jonathan Butcher is a poet based in Sheffield. He has had work appear in various print and online publications including: Popshot, Ex-Ex Literature, The Transnational, Sick-Lit, Drunk Monkeys, The Morning Star, Mad Swirl and others. He edits the online poetry journal 'Fixator Press', through which his third chapbook, 'Corroded Gardens' was published.