'To Leave' Poem by Marty McKenna

to leave
would be
to upset
the balance
of the universe.

a deep-sea-shaped hole
in the middle of this, us.

the creation fable
scurries around me,
the prophets
and the angels
the wolves and vixen,
this softly spoken town
with knives in its sleeves;

raspberries and oranges,
coffee and treacle,
you bring it all with you.

the loss of the parts of each other
sting like lemons and limes;
i've ripped apart the old apple
bruised you, bent you.

neat as a scribble
it sits in my mind.

first published in 'the tyrone herald'
appears in the chapbook 'sleeve notes'