The Albany Poetry Workshop
Forum II: Improbable Tales
Delores McAnuff-Gauntlett
FIRE AND ICE
Evening spreads its darkness downwards
along the coming night
A spaced demand from aliens
explores my space like light
Under the weight of my shadow
midst my speechless surprise
I leapt to another future
and timed regret besides
Ten years of freezing ridicule
clock towards forever
a village of speculators
poke and joke together
Lie-detectors passed all their tests
but my family failed
and could not hide the discomfort
we masked behind the tale
I try to tame stubborn nightmares
continue to make grace
my child will outgrow the teasing
& I, will dream in space
November 1997
Delores McAnuff-Gauntlett's questions:
This is my first attempt with a structured poem, and I would like to know the strengths and weaknesses in the piece.