Black Ice on the Bridge
by Bill Yarrow
trajectory: the string quartet waxes
the mustaches of its accusers.
Innocence has no meaning, but it does have
motive: when the lamprey pond overflows
the pole beans will require stanchions.
Appetite has no meaning, but it does have
velocity: the last handful of anthracite coal
is smelted in view of the opium museum.
Marriage has no meaning, but it does have
pedigree: the box turtle in the intersection
tries, as the twilight worsens, to back up.
Mystery has no meaning, but it does have
gristle: fog spreads across the mustard grass
with no regard for the black ice on the bridge.
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Author's Note
This poem appeared in the March 2011 issue of Negative Suck.
Thank you, Jeff Callico
The poem appears in Pointed Sentences (BlazeVOX, 2012).
Other stories by Bill Yarrow
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Bill's words have weapons but they mean no damage: lightning forks twice, on his page and between clouds.
I liked the way the cadence triggers the unexpected, form reeling in little blue fingerlings of content.
Great command of the lines, Bill. Fresh imagery.
"Marriage has no meaning, but it does have pedigree:"
Acts, innocence, appetite, marriage, mystery have no meaning. wow. but they do have....and what follows is loaded--utterly original and interesting work....fave
Love the form and the images you create. *
Love the form here: the statement followed by the qualifier and then the "answer" that creates more mystery. Great imagery, too. *
"Appetite has no meaning, but it does have
velocity: the last handful of anthracite coal
is smelted in view of the opium museum." Just finished rereading Kurt Vonnegut's Man Without a Country and this stanza resonates today, Bill. Love the entire poem. Well done.*
"Innocence has no meaning, but it does have motive"
Every proposition here lines up, with its beautiful, yet meaningless exemplar.
I really like how the title slides in at the end.
Jim's comment is right on.
*
Very nice. I agree with those above.
*
This is so good at showing what you are so good at: taking a look at the world and then responding as only a poet can to its inevitability with the trained eye of an artist.
Very nice. *
Poor box turtle. That's my fav. Overall? A+ & *.
Fantastic poem, Bill. Nice to re-read it here (I recall it from NS when it appeared there in March). Fave.
I love the way you drew lines, connected things, put things seemingly unrelated together, and let the reader find the relation. *
Poetry has no meaning, but it does have floss: applied throughout the day, keeps mental decay at bay.
every first word, I read and re-read.
liked it alot.
Fav
this is so visual and visceral, especially when read out loud. powerful good. peace *
I actually muttered under my breath "I f---ing loved that" at the end.
fave
Beautiful poem, the title encapsulates the text perfectly.
*
such a great rhythm to this, Bill, and the images, as always, are impeccable!! "Appetite has no meaning, but it does have
velocity: the last handful of anthracite coal is smelted in view of the opium museum." Outstanding!! *****
Enjoyed the read.
A thing unto itself. Faved.
Love the last stanza especially. *
quite wonderful.
Like Estelle, I read and re-read this one. Loved it. *
Very excellent. LUV it *
just coming to this--
and yes.
I have no words, but want to say how much I like this. *