now children, it’s time to begin the rotations
I.
yellow light
step upon the timber floor you remember this place
practice
recite along the line
you know this homely institution
II.
the body makes the mark
can you feel the cotton in your hand? touch
the first sense haven’t found the words yet
the form is pre-lingual
breathing, drying
the shape begins to solidify
III.
tasting to learn the world
everything here is to be shared
IV.
you recognise running through a world full of knees, stiff fabrics
unknown faces the skirt above locates you
the caretaker is soft
the touch is childhood memory
the print is cultural memory
we’ve commenced your phase of
lingual expression
everything to plan it will continue
for now, you are safe
V.
reaching for the glove soft (but with a slap)
the flesh which holds the touch yields
speaks to the hand alone without the body
how fast can you run?
VI.
group time!
to understand this part, we must mark it
the concept of time learn this
is abstract
we quantify it to qualify it
you’re beginning to be institutionalised
it’s not so bad though the new societal reality
VII.
quantifying memory repetition helps
repetition helps move to fairytale to learn this part
to forget what came before
see these pumpkins (you may have to look hard)
they’re hiding in your cultural memory
(remember?)
grotesque goldilocks all wrapped up in scarf and cloth
the old ways will be overcome
VIII.
patchwork
hands in movement and always a task to do
IX.
are you feeling big now?
the dough has turned to bread
time to wash away the play hard grit soap
does it remind you
of the caretakers pink hands?
(so different to your own)
(forbidden thoughts)
X.
we could not feel
what had been held the mark upon the sand
absent form remembers
speaks of then
(precognition) to now
memory creates the object
a residue left behind
and unlearning is a long journey home
Read the rest of Poetry in Lockdown, edited by Toby Fitch and Melody Paloma
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