AFTER THE RUPTURE

for Clemency Burton-Hill

What light might 
lead the traveller 
out of this black 
and unforgiving night 

the bow leads 
through imagined air 
what was becomes 
what could be

the sirens blaze 
in small and hidden 
spaces, threats always 
linger in blood 

there will be music 
when you fall 
the diminuendo 
of all ending

a head sawn open 
by kind carpenter 
composes a symphony 
of desperate refrain

the teetering feet 
take you back
infant waddle 
to a wondering 

where will this lead 
and will 
or won’t 
the star burn

Simon Parker is a London-based writer, performer and teacher, and an associate artist of Vocal Point Theatre, a theatre company dedicated to telling stories from those not often heard. He also runs creative writing and reading groups for the homeless, socially excluded and vulnerable at the 240 Project. His work has been published in various publications including Prosetrics, The Crank, Gramercy Review, Cathexis NW, The Mackinaw, and The Pomegranate London. For more info go to https://www.simonparkerwriter.com