The Goad

Here's a curiosity, a poem that obviously was keyed by an event or a reaction to an event what the poet is not cluing us in on. He admits that it was one of his preconscious works, coming to him out of nowhere and almost lost, had he not recognized it as a piece worth saving and written it down. He says he still, somewhere, has the scrap of a receipt he scribbled it down upon.

It's clever, and has a lilt to it, despite the heavy themes contained within.

And what is a goad? A goad is a pointed, sometimes hooked, stick, used to poke and keep on course and moving an ox or team of oxen. It is sometimes called, believe it or not, a "prick" (which is what the Bible verse about "kicking against the pricks" is built upon).


The Goad

all things red are edible.
all things green, obscene,
judgements made
by colours, fade,
and we are left between.

the skin, it pales
and peels away,
and what is real remains,
the heart and bone of actions shown
as intent of our grains.

that stain with age
to mark couer rage,
transcendent to the mask,
of decades ended all too soon,
we drink the Hemlock flask.

words transcend
the transient end
and leave our purpose, clear,
as angels hark our watermark
in kiss and sweat and tear.


William F. DeVault. all rights reserved.