A Ken Bolton Reader

1 Literary world
They all love you

to some extent
at times a kind

of negative love
'though you speed not

you cannot miss'.

2 All things being
We have what we
deserve
      'just deserts', Spenser Bay
Christian Couriers
   unlimited hot water
Ornette Coleman
Soapsuds
      soapsuds.

– 114 –

3 A street called straight
Telephone ringing
an exact depiction
of St Paul's conversion

what Caravaggio meant
      it's God.
   collapsing
down the street
         ... such indifference!
the street
collapsing.

4 W. chime
How the winds perceive
their sons and daughters

dry-mouthed, river-tossed, wild!
autumn gathering its apostles

out of leaves, the continent seen
through Australia Ice Cubes
vodka and orange
         desert.

Hang on!

– 115 –

5 God
Stared, hours
at the blank pages
of a telephone
directory

left the receiver
humming into the
new petunia
went outside

to invent the world.

6 'Punk China Doll'
Every city's
uncertain dimensions

a past to linger on
like 50s rock legends

guitar-heroes, the present
a lop-sided outing

where 'Sergio Selli
Lives

(& Drinks)'
happily

as a sandgirl
importing

bachelors
from Prague.

– 116 –

7 Major theme
And even if
they
don't love you.

gulls might fly
over
Rundle St, the

Famous Flash Coffee
Shop
'Fuck the facts'

Mr Dark Designs
...Mary
Christie does.