Spencer Selby

SURFACE DIVE

Cause for premature 
best of regardless. 
Made a mistake 
when entering politics. 
Heart of trade run down 
by return of unreal service.

All die crime 
in judging too long 
as people say 
is a gateway to suffering. 
All music all motive 
all discharge periodic.

Secret art from stomach reach 
of misdirected passion. 
Precious garden 
sign of rotten 
no word better than certain.

Not beautiful seashore seeing it. 
Not finger in household 
anatomy overture 
feeling it.

Shows concrete anyway 
proof of big-time cowardice. 
Imitates childhood 
to lure men away 
Keeps people waiting on 
a compulsion to write down 
outmoded consequence 
build for today.

Work below ground 
in times of flood. 
Damaging bulwark 
connection with the eye. 
On face obsolete 
the noxious spell 
On face in good taste 
obscene worship 
master slave relationship 
always in the wrong.

Above and below 
the person you become 
doing one job after another. 
Automatic impulse 
dark night 
gloomy thoughts 
to express a convenient limit.

Scandal of time 
complain of others 
laugh to scorn 
the mob overrun by 
doorway's profit.

Swear you know 
the singlemost goal 
eaten or crucified blindness. 
Desire more dangerous 
than any wild beast 
who believes in everyday 
taken for license.

Ongoing total as 
volume form 
washed out in blood sublime. 
Hypnotic worm 
with strength to halt 
crimes committed 
in whose name.

Point of address 
something other. 
Hand to mouth 
masterstroke 
result of work 
reaching back

that no one else can utter.



TARGET TROUBLES

Target troubles another showing 
family relative stranger 
gold class situation

Landlord ground ownership 
slave media photos frightening 
ambiguous sorry attitude 
engraved in the city

Can't tell certain recourse 
behind the counter getting difficult 
with far too many

Can't free enterprise 
lurid shadow cry unnoticed 
charm of ridicule endless

Day by day 
facts and unreality spreading 
uniform slogans blazing 
armchair hand in bleeding

Fire temper long unwritten 
dark water mercy or vengeance 
failed appearance indoor outdoor 
spirit in waiting

Criminal storefront leaning 
reserve empty pockets growing 
collective guilt and knowledge 
stranded again and again

The current price the stolen food 
the sealed doors the wasted body 
people speak of and forget about 
like a break in the sun



CROSS

Cross to bear in high places. 
Fact imposed on social purpose. 
Network losing tenure 
because culture has the wrong 
association.

Courage over instinct 
is a qualified fear, 
gets us through the door 
to the floor above. 
Harsh in its light of 
clothing coming alive, 
displaced or misunderstood 
with dialogue unable to record 
the scream of its victims.

Degree of guilt among 
citizens named after a war 
that never happened. 
Research fitted with 
a standard Beta face. 
Cool and grey surface 
locked in a dance of death.

Trail set to being 
wounded or reported 
missing in action. 
All the books' suffering need 
to say good things about 
human potential.

Last call rootless 
tree struck by lightning 
in the only way possible. 
Changes on a global scale 
given shape too perfect for 
discovery by the person I am.

(((((((((The Alterran Poetry Assemblage )))))))))

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