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George Neame: a poem



Mercury Fold

Saturn's rings are cheap tricks from these seats;

planetary witchcraft of the most ancient order.

Spin a bucketful of water over your head

and you'll see how easily we can make science

look like both child's play and black magic;

how material in motion is the only real deception

in the repertoire of an illusionist:

a rabbit from a hat, a woman sawn in half,

all just the movement of matter

from one side of the stage to another.

What lunacy it is then to try to trace the birthplace of life on Mars

or order the dawning of Jupiter's many moons

when the galaxy's curtain shows no signs of falling.



George Neame is a publisher of medical journals based in London, but in recent years he has lived in Yorkshire, Dublin and Tennessee. His poetry has previously appeared in Acumen, Antiphon, the Moth, and Ink and Sweat & Tears. In his spare time, he enjoys long walks, board games and exceptionally strong coffee.

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