The Butcher's Block

The Butcher's Block
- C. Taylor

"Go on then,
tell me the story,

show me the poem...”

your eyes say,
challenging,
as they speed along
looking, hurriedly,
for the "good" parts.

When you are faced
with the glaring nakedness
of malicious acts
you will doubtless turn away
as most pious souls
usually do,

equating the Truth,
the description of evil
with the evil itself.

And who am I ?

Mongrel man,
slum-house dweller,

who thinks,
who dares to think

he can write Truths ?

You have surmised,
in this quickly scanning fashion,
that this poet,
filthy and poor,

is not going to tell you

of peaceful streams,
the souls of tranquil flowers,
dreamy eternal lovers,

and sweet memories of loved ones dead.

No.

on his knees as he begs

for food,
and a place to sleep,

he will tell you,
gently

what happens

on the butcher's block.

----------------------
From the book
"The Butcher's Block: Poems of Poverty" (1993)
by Chris Taylor
-------------------------