ditch,
the poetry that matters
Robert Swereda
Robert Swereda was raised in rural Alberta, currently studying creative writing at Capilano University where he has been an editor of The Liar. He has authored two chapbooks. Other work has been published by magazines Flask & Pen, The Liar, The Monongahela Review, Northshore News Blogspot, and forthcoming pieces are to appear in The Capilano Review. He has a disorganized page of visual art, music and sound art, text and photography at http://www.terminus1525.ca/ along with a Youtube page full of experimental music. http://www.youtube.com/user/burntumber
r p ch s
ho t ed rst
g er ue redi ons or
a h si n of s i
ando a ume t
a a ng m t o li
p h w th
i t f pe s di g be nce
ov r p ch s
sh tha d t rs
g ov ue p d ons or
a esi on of in
nd n u en
wi h an rr ge t f ing
eep i h w th
i t o rs di g bed en e
over patches
of shorthanded thirst
long overdue predictions for
a hesitation of skin
abandon argument
with an arrangement of living
keep with worth
diet of persuading obedience
o r pa ches
of ho t nd d t rst
l ng ov ue pre ict s f
a hes ati n of s in
b don gu ent
wi h an a angem nt f ving
e p h w rth
di t f persu ing o edien e
w k ou o fe l mor c for able
is la e to su ort c ange
of r la nsh p: gra s s ai ed, dbl wn
gg ng
fo c ea thr t th nking
fra ti n: mi k I th st or.
ro m f r s h n e ibit.
pir d mfo t s t ut v sh o d neg ve sh
walk out to feel more comfortable
isolate to support change
of relationship: grass stained, windblown
begging
for clear throat thinking
fraction: milk I thirst for.
no room for such an exhibit.
expired comfort split out on varnish wood negative show
alk ou to fe l ore omfo ble
Iso te o s ppo t ange
of re atio ip: gr ss stai ed, wi dbl wn
b g ing
f r cl ar t oat hink ng
ra ion: mil I t ir t for.
o ro m or suc an exh bit.
e pir d co or s t ou on var sh wo d n at ve s ow
es spe l ca s wo ’t h t t e gro n
le t s r h ng or conn tion
ri ht wi h p un ati n c ys a s s usu l wil
in n v ess st o g in rrow
a ne d to l av b re rk w t a d u le pa es
in ou elf
hi ous w h chan e of ak e ver
wha er we ay, wh r ur e cu e is
h ow kn s at t e li e s d bi ter
u h. fumb a ou d. m gs dis ure
these spell casts won’t hit the ground
left searching for connection
right with pronunciation crystals as usual wilt
in nervousness strong in sorrow
a need to leave before dark wet and unable pages
in yourself
hilarious with chance of take over
whatever we say, whatever our excuse is
throw knives at the lifeless and bitter
push. fumble around. mutterings of displeasure
t e s ll c s s won’ t t e ound
l t searc g or onne tion
i t ith pron nci tion c yst ls as usual wi
n n ous es str in s ow
a nee to ve bef e d rk et a d u ble pa es
in yo elf
il ri us ith cha ce of t ke o er
at ver we s y, wha ev r ur exc se is
row kniv s at he lifel s a d b ter
push. umb e a ou d. utt ngs displ re
s dy o f l n ra es:
yer ge y
n o e t ’ in er
b r d ove p f hite
c ue ot.
tsi e w h a so nd l e a t rr to an al
ba k an fo t of h ev ry
i pi g aw y a a ning
i a a en
al ze a t te o sl ep
i a b ment ll of d
o so nds e fe
a study of fallen branches:
layer geometry
in a forests’ winter
buried over trap of white
clue shot.
outside with a sound like a territorial animal
back and forth of thievery
sipping away at a joining
in awareness
realize a taste of sleep
in a basement full of dream
no sounds save life
______________________________
Decimator poem 1.
Ado we have rehensi of. Let us out eas .Try to s ound a
pt a fun been do ble. Bu go back, ily. Kee cratch o nd abo
eral tem ing thing t now l travel an p out of ut a repr b lea
po. sou s, is a m et me d d separa sight, fe ieve and ving.
nd halts ost impr raw a p te at will. ar of ca prevent s
and bre essive s arallel w There's sualties tars from
aks into cene co ith other no reaso could pr sproutin
fragmen mpletly tradition you shou esent a g. Lay o
ts. How imcomp s or lack ldn't slip problem n the gro
_____________________________________
Decimator poem2.
Mesotics on The Glass Bead Game
Chapters:
1. The call 7. In office
2.Waldzell 8. The Two Poles
3. Years of freedom 9. A Conversation
4. Two Orders 10. Preparations
5. The Mission 11. The Circular letter
6. Magister Ludi 12. The Legend
perfecTly
monkisH
gamE knoWn
consCientious venerAte
gAin bacheLour
pabuLum eDited
gLass xxZxx
figurEs
unreLated
justifY generaL
knowlEdge
circulAr
SecRet sTirrings
remainS We
grOtesque dOubt
liFe tOgether
Fact woRds
sculptuRes indeeD
gavE opEn
irrEsponsibly histoRy
Domination eaSily
amOng
poems
counTless
wHimsies
ordErs
Movement layMan
abidIng speAk
dancerS stranGely
Sketch wrIters
light-mInded confeSsor
biOgraphies tempT
self-obsessioN Extension
ephemeRal
Life
serioUs
renDered
sImply
introductIon
briNgs
evOled
Few disquisiTion
Fodder postHumous
wrIting stEp
traCed worThy
disobEdience Word
fOr
Probables
overthrOwn
nowAdays cuLture
catChword lEgend
tOgether atmoSphere
borN
themselVes
opEning
histoRy
reverSe
meAning
aTtatched
raInmaker
sOurces
uniqueNess
desPeration
wRitings
closEr painTing
biograPhies togetHer
detAchment cErtain
foR hiearChy
fAct fInest
worThwhile histoRy
fashIons neCessary
pOems strUggles
drawN ceLebrated
irreSistibly gAme
barbaRities
formuLate
zEalous
iT’s skeTch
notHing Treat
unEquivocal mEmory
Lapdog aRdent
ordErs
desiGnated
phasE
strikiNgly
eDited
untitled
reacquaint yourself
with reason you admitted here
the voice uplifts
accompany this
as if it were
your own
possession
the sense swims around
heaves itself over
rivers of regret
and loss
in the lowest of low, reduction:
an alarmed presence
emerged
from wandering deserts of
great noise
an elegant appearance
stands still to casts shadow over quicksand
dismissive looks
stream on past with a kind of
urgency
I just came to see the distance between remembrance
and fact
the river stands empty
un-clustered, not together.
conversation in walls
of anguish remove
all the Cancer and hold
against your belly
returns attention to immediate pipedream
that threatens sincerity
hip-deep in hunger
for connection
how much of this will vanish into nothing? to suspicious of forming connections
the current is too strong
and your words
thick with debris
of sound that
bends against cedar
locating a fashion
of single steps toward prediction
