strange the things one finds inside their navel curt, frazzled end of unending long string I haul out yard on yard, not able to match the end in hand as it's shaking curt, frazzled end of unending long string ragged naval, blueish, almost azure to match the end in hand as it's shaking I must dig deeper, that much is for sure ragged naval, blueish, almost azure tether myself Theseus wrapped 'round chair I must dig deeper, that much is for sure stretch my navel wider, peer in and glare tether myself Theseus wrapped 'round chair inch questing hands into skin-scented black stretch my navel wider, peer in and glare forearms swathed as I writhe into my crack inch questing hands into skin-scented black head slurped greedy into cavernous mire forearms swathed as I writhe into my crack waist gobbled whole, path back spins thinning wire head slurped greedy into cavernous mire peach-fuzz light blooms, shingly antre looms waist gobbled whole, path back spins thinning wire tilling gaze unearths channels who mushroom peach-fuzz light blooms, shingly antre looms hello echoes louder than I did squeak tilling gaze unearths channels who mushroom each path dollies as wandering I peek hello echoes louder than I did squeak chamber walls breathe, expand 'til space pitch-black each path dollies as wandering I peek chamber walls breathe, contract 'til vacuum packed chamber walls breathe, expand 'til space pitch-black guiding cord nowhere in sight, nerves shreds chamber walls breathe, contract 'til vacuum packed teeth itch, flee down nearest stony ingress guiding cord nowhere in sight, nerves shred closing sides break body to crawl afresh teeth itch, flee down nearest stony ingress rock-sewn borders give way to lithe taut flesh closing sides break body to crawl afresh pin-hole starlight flashes from out the void rock-sewn borders give way to lithe taut flesh poor form warped and drawn, rendered man uncoiled pin-hole starlight flashes from out the void point shimmers to blaze, no other senses poor form warped and drawn, rendered man uncoiled what have I become - weeping throat-burned laments point shimmers to blaze, no other senses fingers meet ridge lip, no more can heart bare what have I become - weeping throat-burned laments eyes meet that bluish string wrapped 'round my chair fingers meet ridge lip, no more can heart bare I crawl out my left eye, shake stuck head free eyes see that bluish string wrapped 'round my chair to pull serpentine wriggling beneath I crawl out my left eye, shake stuck head free I haul out yard on yard, not able to pull serpentine wriggling beneath strange the things one finds inside their navel.
This piece was written in August 2020. Lot’s Wife accepted this piece for their print 5th Edition, 2020. ‘Winding Paths’ is a traditional pantoum. The subject matter is inspired by the superb and disturbing short comic ‘The Enigma of Amigara Fault‘ by Junji Ito, as well as his collected series ‘Umuzaki’. His whole body of work is incredible – please consider supporting him by buying his work.
Not Yet Returned - Cody B Strange 