The November Selected Poet is Matthew Wilson
Please feel free to visit Matthew at: richardstokes567@yahoo.co.uk
MONSTERS OF THE MIND
Slimy things fight for dominance in Lovecraft’s mind
swallowing light of an obese moon rising above dark trees
creeping toward rain sodden eldritch cities on the edge of nowhere
where scarred and hunted murderers find peace of mind with ease.
Twitching tentacles beneath their dusted dirby as they play cards
readying to quick draw the fool looking to catch Lovecraft's ear
when for a penny a word these souls who speak no human words sing
for dead things in the swing of a cemetery church bell spreading fear.
This poverty stricken writer struggles with the headaches of these tollings
hunched in a chair beside the winter fire trying to filter them out
deciding on which horror to give to history in unnamable form as he
finds his pencil soothed by a sodium light and leaves behind his doubt.
PEACE TALKS
Leave your bloodied axes at the door
this is a peace talking party
now the wolves have eaten all the dead
it’s time to drink and be most hearty.
The war between our kind is endless
there has been no respite
now we sit down at this table
and talk of futures in the night.
Leave behind your silver crosses
we have no desire or hunger
now dawn is only hours away
let us sit and talk and wonder.
This war was all the humans’ fault
but on that matter we are fine
now come sit with your undead enemies
drink deep your poisoned wine.
THE FLESHLESS MAN
The dead man came to miners’ town
knocking sand from off his spurs
drinking from a bullet marked canteen
as he watched the playful curs.
Mothers took their children in
silencing the dusty noon-day street
as the fleshless man got off his horse
and moved his maggoty feet.
Tavern card players were still excited
the air still full of smoke
as the fleshless rider came inside
the bravest never spoke.
The grinning ghoul approached the dead
loser of a rapid duel,
he tied him with his sturdy rope
these shooters knew the rule.
He dragged the corpse toward his horse
fleshless lips sucked greedy at his wine
eager for flames of homeward bound
and man’s hatred of man divine.
Matthew Wilson, 31, has had over 150 appearances in such places as Star*Line, Spellbound, Illumen, Apokrupha Press, Hazardous Press, Gaslight Press, Sorcerers Signal and many more. He is currently editing his first novel and can be contacted on twitter @matthew94544267.