Shrike

(Michael Timmins)

Spike me to the Hawthorn tree
piece by piece you devour me
garden shrugs, the mantle falls
while I’m writhing on the Hawthorne tree

I heard the earth suck in a breath
sadly now, tenderness
peace becomes such gentle torture
I heard the earth suck in a breath

distrust and the love to unyielding partners
embracing and chasing and not

circle and circle
parry and thrust
they bite, they scratch, they plot

Hear that voice among the thorns
brash and brazen full of scorn
that’s the song that I long for
singing sweetly in the thorns

spike me to the Hawthorne tree
piece by piece you devour me