The Killer Dappled by Sun
the killer flexed his hands
warm playful sunshine
wrapped around his fingers
he squeezed
but couldnʼt grasp the light
couldnʼt hold it stop it control it harm it
the light was safe from him
he found comfort that something
was safe from him
he couldnʼt murder the light
there was a limit to his power
he was human he had frailty
he looked around
shadows light danced on faces
chattering mindless
anyone of whom he could kill
one of whom he would kill soon
with hands that basked
in the gentle caress of the sun
they would find a throat
they would take the light
out of those eyes
they were slaves to a system
of comfort for comfortʼs sake
well heʼd put an end to someoneʼs comfort
the killer was a liberator
and he would liberate
one by one
until he was free
it would be good to be free
free of the need to liberate
the need to kill
once he had quenched that thirst
he would be free
to enjoy this life this world
this moment in the sun
The title is a direct reference to Hopkins’ Pied Beauty that starts ‘Glory be to God for dappled things.’ The title and the first verse came too me at the same time. That first verse also refers to the Biblical creation story – ‘And God said, Let there be light.’ I present this image of the killer interacting with light – destruction vs creation.The killer doesn’t have this level of awareness his focus is on his own set of desires. Everything reflects his personal mission. In away this is what the writer does to the reader – manipulates the images to some discomforting resolution.
The killers train of thought moves along its own logic. One which the reader may not agree with but, I hope, finds themselves understanding. The need to finish one task in order to enjoy a less taxing one is pretty universal.I also ratchet up the tension – each piece gets a little more macabre without getting gory. I don’t think it’s a big jump from the apple juice soaked hands of the previous poem to sun warmed hands around the reader’s neck.
Again I also invest the killer with a sense of good purpose. When God created light he didn’t intend it to sun burn people. The killer wants to set people’s spirits free, killing them is coincidental, enjoying that process isn’t the aim but one learns to enjoy what they cannot evade.
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April 19: judging: Hot Damn! It’s A Queer Slam Season 2 finale: 8 p.m. : Buddies In Bad Times Theatre – 12 Alexander St., Toronto, Ontario
June 3-5: attending: Capturing Fire 2016 – The DC Centre – 2000 14th St NW, Suite 105 – Washington, DC
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June 11 – attending: The Toronto Poetry Talks – 10 AM – Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6
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July 4-8: attending: Chasing your Tale – Loyalist – Belleville
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September 1-4: attending FanExpo 2016 (I’ve already registered)
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November 1 – 30 Participating NaNoWriMo
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