The Gardener Poem by Niall Lawmile

And the fleshy nubs in their skin sleep

diamond fingers shine

and bloody stumps creep with hands unseen

steel plates in the lie

rhythmic blades creep ‘neath earth deep

and vulgar cry screaming steep

while curdled wails still flash the dark

and verged widows damp the spark

Metal stanchions captured still

Bearing load to shopped un-til

The verdant boughs crack the light

And Atlas fain to nature’s might

Green shoots and rose unclipped,

and un-thorned touch to fingertips

belie the canvas yet to paint

and shadowed heart yet left to taint

Bone, muscle, skin in vines

Tendrils, soul and blood entwined

Piper run through evil rust

While the bones, mouldy crumb to dust.