February 1, 2017

Three Poems by David Subacchi: "Clouds of Existence," "North Africa," and "Not Impressed"

David Subacchi lives in Wales where he was born of Italian roots. He studied at the University
of Liverpool and he has 4 published collections of his English Language poetry First Cut (2012),
Hiding in Shadows (2014), Not Really a Stranger (2016) and A Terrible Beauty (2016). His work
has also appeared in numerous literary magazines and anthologies.
More about David and his work can be found at: http://www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/davidsubacchi








Clouds of Existence

She tells you what the weather was
During the night, when you were asleep,
What time it rained and when it stopped,
The wind conditions snow and hail,
Or warmer spells, the raised temperature
And for how long, when it thundered,
When there was lightning,
Where it struck and how many times;
She can tell you all this
Although she says she sleeps well.

So you think maybe she dreamt it all
But you dare not whisper so,
She has an answer for everything
And she knows the difference
Between dreams and storms,
Between fantasies and heatwaves,
She remembers every vision,
Every ecstasy, every nightmare,
She recounts them in detail
Seeking your interpretation.

But you just listen silently
For your sleep is a heavy blanket
Of anaesthetic darkness
Smothering all recollection,
Undisturbed by weather conditions
And your dreams are brief,
Best not spoken of in polite company;
Unlike her you are not amongst those
Who have access to higher worlds
Who pierce the very clouds of existence.



North Africa

They slept on sand
In the desert of hell.
Stukas screaming
Overhead,
Artillery firing
Deadly shells,
Burning flares
Picking them out.

They dreamed
Of home and family,
Of real food
And the cool taste
Of young wine.
They did their best.
Brave men
Bersaglieri.

One day
They captured
An enemy soldier.
French Foreign Legion
He was Italian.
The officer cursed
But my father said
They let him go.


Not Impressed

On day one night and day, on day two sky and sea
Then land and vegetation followed on day three.
Day four brought stars, sun and moon, day five sea creatures
Including fish and birds, then day six animals
And mankind, with whom God was not very impressed;
No wonder he set day seven aside to rest.


David Subacchi


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