The Gorko Gazette

Shrovetide

curled up in vomit like a lamb in the grass
that’s how the day burns out reflected
in our eyelashes

terracotta watches try on outfits
and the snow begins
as if for the first time
like an uninvited guest
like your guiding name
the floors are washed

and the windows are wide open
not life but an eternal Shrovetide

I eat with my head bowed and can’t get enough
and the birds repeat after me
I eat the silence of birds with my head bowed

and can’t get enough of birdsong and humility
the cage is wide open like a soul and the heart
is naked like a snake
and like a black hurricane the snowy red Shrovetide blossoms

corners of lips sewn by priest’s words
uterus sewn by communist’s cookbook
needle as need tin face as real tin

Shrovetide blossoms with a sausage meat zoo and time flows like blood
animals warm themselves with the Magi by the fire
but where are the gifts
and where did the pig disappear

gas mask from the Magi
and eternal as a god for the second month
in a row Shrovetide
and where did the god disappear

WHERE DID THE NAKED KING DISAPPEAR?
did he decide to meet Jesus Santa or a pig?

no one forgave anyone
and a huge raven carried away the son
all in vain and your blood was spilled in vain into these wine lips
God

this eternal prison Shrovetide devoured our body
we didn’t understand that those pancakes we ate were someone else’s body
God

Shrovetide
Showtime
Shirime

bell ringing
bellа ringing
boll ringing

and from this oily fat greasy void
a bird pecks at stone eyelashes

diamonds like tears flow down the cheek offered for a blow
left cheek of humility
right cheek of suicide

leviathan does not forgive
leviathan ate Shrovetide
leviathan drank laughter

God in the hands of a shepherd who has lost faith
laughter

God comes
laughing

curled up in vomit like a lamb in the glass
that’s how life and death burns out reflected
in our whiplashes

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Winner of the international competition «Art Against Drugs», bronze medalist of the festival Chestnut House, laureate of the literary competition named after Tyutyunnik.

Published in the journals Dzvin, Dnipro, Bukovinsky journal, Tipton Poetry Journal , Stone Poetry Journal, Divot journal , dyst journal, Superpresent Magazine, Allegro Poetry Magazine, Alternate Route , Better Than Starbucks Poetry & Fiction Journal, Littoral Press , Book of Matches , on the portals Ice Floe Press, Litcenter and ‘Soloneba’, in the Ukrainian literary newspaper etc.

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Image: The Adoration of the Magi – painting by Quinten Massys (MET, 11.143)