Become Shamen II

for Keith Hackwood

The flesh falls off
tightens round the bone
like sun dried wet leather
the brain pulls back the eyes
into the skull.

Spindly fingers of an outstretched hand
are lengthened by a span of uncut nail
pointing skyward
pointing to the ground.

A man stands completely
within his own shadow
a silent wind picks up his hair
quiet aurora to his head

many questions are asked
and he nods his acquiescence
to the presenting issue

yes

he says

there is still time for this

James Piers Taylor, 18th October 2006, London


IMAGE: Mitsukini Defying the Skeleton Spectre (c.1845) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.