Online Exclusive

07.19.11
Five Poems
Analogion

ore poured
through ode

and hissed forth
the dread

child shape: O
creation floods 

the lung, revert
osmosis of 

cosmos through fog
so broken, reluctant

the mind’s
hand planting 

shadows that, hark
swoons its likeness 

through an icon’s
drizzle field

as trident swayed
the ark, so lyre 

slays the sun
exhaust spindrifts

toward a now 
outmoded cloud 

the same gasp 
of late chimes 

light snags 
light once 

absolved, now
cursed from form

outward 
from cross

beams of one word 
embossed in the 

thinning optic cup
twice enameled 

world, the worm’s 
realm is throat, all

thralldoms’ germ
thou art, song womb 







Melismata

of light
rain, light

in 
abundance

but small.
Flattened

at the 
base of

two 
mountains’

timely
collision

the base 
of me now

cobalt
leaf also 

amalgam 
of plague

and fragrance
I prayed for

each hand’s 
burning

branch
that sputter 

of blood breath
and water.







Hubris

Asphyxed 
alembic still

hawkwise, 
cocksure.

Hear, Sphinx!
as the soul

to birdlime
goes in throes 

it honks. 







Alms

from 
green sheaths 

gold-

pistoled
spires 
herald

pike shaped cells

solar imbued

itinerant
moons

their self-

similar cursive
writ circum-
gyre

in tidal pools

an insular 
elliptic

iterating

sea rose or
diaphanous 

as bridal quarter
curtains are

as empyreal lips
part

yielding 
organ tones

ballasted

to undules
of blessing

in tendril time

the music 
itself

un-
scored

growth







Yuri

peering over 
his ropes

and casement
which tow

the voices
up, we are 

wordless
ourselves, faces

will blink
in his song

strand us
on high alps

strangers
to those who

live below
the tarns

the stones
which replace

our hearts
crossed a great

expanse once 

Steven Toussaint's writing has appeared in Cannibal, Jacket2, Hue & Cry, and Typo. He is a regular contributor to Occasional Religion.