“On the Road” Image courtesy of Dariusz Klimczak

It comes right down to this. Just one more hit
and he will be cured of the need
for this frenzy in the dark, this scrounging:
things he can pawn, lies he can tell.
She will know then; all will be revealed.
Something will save him from the sharp,
tight hankering in his brain, this net
he’s cast around the world: the feel
of pressing the glass mouth full, sucking
and the sense that he is everything
in that one split second rush.
Now he is Hercules eternally is he not.
So surely this time that will be it.

O surely this time that will be it.
Now he is Hercules eternally is he not?
In that one split second rush there
is the sense that he is everything, sucking,
pressing the glass mouth full, the feel
he’s been cast around the world, a net
tight & hankering in his brain.
Something will save him from the sharp She
who will know then; all will be revealed –
those things he’s pawned, the lies he can tell.
All for this frenzy in the dark, this scrounging
to be cured of the need.
It comes right down to this. Just one more hit.

Catherine Owen has published nine collections of poetry and one of prose. Her work has been translated and has appeared in journals in NA, Europe and Australia. Her website is www.catherineowen.org.

Read our interview with Catherine here.