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The Son Drawn from Water

Edwin Thomas

A feverish Moses murmurs below my lemon tree,

dragging fists and drying his form,

flailing at a flying Spring thrown to seed –

his violet lids clamped in hope

of reclaiming wealth

and free thought,

an animal created

under sun-soaked reeds.

He steadily engages his sight and breathes,

while we watch my cement mixer drip

down the falling spire

of St. Peter’s keys.

 

The breeze batters

while the pale dye peels the disfigured grass,

Melting the face,

Sapping the stone,

Feeding into that scoured river

and Burning the froth,

draining ripples from the marrow and foam.

These last leaves of white grass whistle Dixie

at the kaleidoscopes of chain

oozing to the Potentate’s throne,

as the now ordained approaches his fount

and cautiously peers down.

The torrent swirls,

as sedated logs

bob and collide

with paper fish and bony boats,

clotting, unconscious,

submerging themselves.

The maelstrom writhes and he lifts his hands

to part giant waves he is desperate to find.

‘Don’t put your feet in

without broken shoes’, I said to him.

He lulled his tongue,

and replied,

in a language

that I couldn’t begin to fathom

Editors for The Son Drawn from Water not yet setup.

New Beginnings is our third and final volume of 2020. It is also our longest yet, with close to 100 pieces having been sent in for review from over 80 writers. Additionally, this volume marks a step towards making our initiative even more inclusive, having opened submissions for art and photography, too.

2021 may not be the new beginning for which we are all hoping. In fact, it is likely that the world will stay largely the same. However, that doesn’t stop us doing what we can to make it a little better. In supporting and being involved in an initiative whose primary motivation is to build one another up, our team and readership have certainly proven to be committed to making positive change already.

First published by Ta Voix 2020