Hi Grassy,
An accoplished piece of writing that would stand without the explanation but
is illuminated by it. Thanks.
bw
James
>From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New sub: Roi de Verre
>Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 23:58:42 +0100
>
>
> Roi de Verre
>
>They filled a glass Byzantine cup, blood red
>as noble swordsman's shame. My taster tried
>the wine. I watched the wholeness of his head
>fall back, the gulp, the gasp. I think he died.
>Before I smashed the venomed vessel down,
>I saw the gleam of sacred gems, the sly
>encircling eyes, glazed light around my crown.
>Now all is dark. Both day and night I writhe
>through dreams. Astrologers consult their charts.
>I feel black fractures branching through the bone
>from where they bored a blowhole to my brain.
>One day my flesh will shatter into shards
>and no one, nothing, will repair my throne.
>A crazed glass holds the fragments of my pain
>
> grasshopper
>
>[Charles VI of France was also known as Charles the Mad. In his madness, he
>cut down several of his own men. He sometimes put iron rods in his clothing
>as he was convinced he was made of glass and could break. A trepanation
>(operation to bore a hole through the skull) provided only temporary
>relief.]
>
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