APRILIA ZANK

APRILIA ZANK

THE MAD KING

they had come all the way

to gawp at the King

had queued for hours

for the bus

for the tickets

had flocked at the gate

to be the first

to be the closest

to touch him

to inhale him

to shiver

at the velvet caress

of his canopy

to penetrate the cave

behold the swan

catch a glimpse

of the hidden chamber

where he devoured youth –

to drown in his frenzy

as he had drowned

in the mire

I was standing aside

waiting

with blood on my hands

and my model kit

of the castle

with the golden cave

and the swan

thought I'd get a chance

to perceive Him

to avow myself

to His mastery

but the pacing crowd

gulped me

swallowed me

smashed my kit

and my castle

to pieces

ADVERT

look at this body

perfectly glowing

in the neon sun

skin

optimally SPF protected

thighs

lacquered with seaweeds –

decorous waves

flood the underground

sand sparkles with promises

like broken glass

the man

holds his briefcase

with petting hands

the woman

deconstructs her identity

behind sunglasses

lace-collared old ladies

show handicapped badges

for reserved seats

CALL

I dig through the night

with loneliness on my shoulders

and ghosts

grinning

with smileless teeth

rain flutters by

unable or

unwilling

to wash off

yesterday's reflections

I hear a voice say

go

join the world

laugh

dance

embrace a tree

fly a kite

I look outside

but it's only the wind

sweeping away

snippets of recollections

APRILIA ZANK