Fanaticism follows my reclamation trail
Some blinding figment leading the blind
| Eyes | Ears | Lips | Skin | Hair | Heir |
An arid assemblage of assuaged sons for
Salving sakes of saving our souls
Heeding a call, envisioning their fall
To shared beginnings ↑↑
From esoteric endings ↓↓
Equanimity meets e-x-p-o-s-u-r-e with
Me in my mendacity, my frisson mind
Mindfulness? Heedlessness??
No, dolent for locus lessons learned
Circumvoluted arcana Arcangel
An obsolescent lumen ceding prudence
Warping philosophies and polemical
R
E
A
L
I
T
I
E
S
So, pray for us, you beautiful boys in the
Pulchritudinous prime of silvern
Perfection comes with the cautionary
Cost of roguish voguish poise, cursed
Causes posing as hedonism
Masked by every lexicographic acronym
L. G. B. T. I. Q. A. +
Dance around me in plagued tones of
Every sublimate shade of the rainbow
Do tell "TuTeLaRy TrUtHs"
Of tongue-tied, loquacious lollipop lies
Pardon me as I pout, questioning
Nightshade parables with an occultist
((((((((((((((((((Mouth))))))))))))))))))
Speak up, philistine phantoms, will any
Of you make a damned, dogmatic,
Difference?
(c) Edward Swafford 2026
**TITLE IMAGE URL.
About the Creator
Edward Swafford
Hello! I'm an Australian writer and healthcare professional. I've written on Medium for over two years, run Black Coffee Creative on Substack (over 1000 subscribers), with select work published in lit mags 😴.
Edgy syntax is my bailiwick.
Keep reading
More stories from Edward Swafford and writers in Poets and other communities.
Kusliga Vista
“I told you we were going too far off trail,” said Clark. “I thought Ammon said he could read a compass,” said Kit. “Guys, it’s easy, we just need to find a river or stream and follow it. Those things always lead to civilization,” Ammon said and pushed through thick patch of bushes.
By Amos Gladeabout 20 hours ago in Horror
Comments (8)
Far out! Head went everywhere with this amazing piece. You are very skilled but I need the dictionary again soon, Edward! 😃 My thoughts on this connected to something from my background so I loved all the religious allusions, but I am not sure that’s your overall intention! Nope! Just read a long comment of yours below and I was way off, but like I said recently in another piece, sometimes there is still a feeling of something one receives from reading (and again I do think this is quite abstract) so I don’t think this is necessarily wrong per se as the feeling is sometimes unable to be put into words anyhow! In an English paper though that is perhaps another story! 😄 Very intriguing!
Edward, this is dynamic! The language is both titillating and provocative. I love the format - unique yet easy to follow!
Just love the lolling alliteration and beautifully rhythmic descriptive and pacing. Good choice of illustration too
Love this one “loquacious lollipop lies”
Love the message, the form, the alliteration... Love it all! 💜
What a rich, luscious creation. I can't get "...my frisson mind..." out of my head. Your language, as always, is challenging and rewarding. Just a great work. Well done.
A dense, provocative piece that wrestles with identity, belief, and illusion in a storm of striking language.
I have just sat with my phone in one hand (poem open) & computer in front of me (dictionary page open) and I *feel* like I might be close to an understanding or at least an interpretation based on my social location. And if not, I have definitely expanded my vocabulary!! Regardless, I love it. The things that are coming to me (but are not as yet formed into any kind of narrative of “about-ness” are: - catholicism (or some other kind of canoned faith) - tarot (or a “taboo” other end of spectrum spirituality or faith, at odds with the original canon) - drag mothers - I sense something of a rebellious realisation of being sucked into something under the guise of care, that is really jumping from one cultish (or occultish) exploitation to another. - there’s something subversive there. Anyhoo…am I on track for a gold star or waaaayyyyy off??