Cassandra Voices

Tag: Deborah Mason poetry

  • Poem: ‘The con cometh’

    The con cometh

    The demon smirks, having laid out her wares.
    Will they see what she’s doing?
    Will they realise how they’re being taken in?
    Not all will grasp how an influencer works.
    She hopes they won’t. Her power over them
    depends on her ability to cajole and deceive.
    She insinuates herself into their thoughts,
    whispering temptations, telling them that the world
    is theirs for the taking. Only a click away.
    It’s not all about apples. Other goods are available.


    Feature Image: Max Beckmann – Family Picture (1920)

  • Poem: ‘Fothering the Sheep’

    Fothering the sheep

    Only minus seven this morning
    but the gate latches are frozen solid.
    ‘We’ll need a kettleful to unfreeze them.’
    There’s more snow forecast and a gale warning.

    ‘We need to get hay up to the sheep
    before it blows in.’ The cart’s struggling.
    The sheep are gathered, waiting. ‘They’re patient,
    I’ll give them that.’ The snow’s firm, packed deep.

    ‘Nay, don’t all push at once! You’ll get your share.’
    Sheep surge forward, eyes fixed on the hay.
    The lads flick it up. It falls in bundles on the snow.
    Strewing the hay shows the sheep they care.

    Image: Daniele Idini

  • Poem: ‘What comes to mind in Ireland’

    What comes to mind in Ireland

    What is black? An absence of light,
    the cassocks of parish priests,
    dark peat in an Irish bog.

    What is brown? A leather belt,
    decaying plants, veins of iron in stones,
    the layered bark of a log.

    What is grey? Lowering clouds,
    skies threatening rain over windswept water,
    the speckled muzzle of an old dog.

    What is silver? A crucifix round a neck,
    handcuffs and shackles, thirty shiny coins,
    a flash of light through heavy fog.

    Feature Image: Daniele Idini

  • Poem: ‘No animals died’

    No animals died

    Our research on toads and carabids
    considered predator and prey.
    Japanese toads and bombardier beetles
    were ‘introduced’, let’s say.
    The relationships were explosive –
    but complied with current laws.
    We intend to show you footage.
    Please, hold your applause.

    Our methodology? Each beetle placed
    in tongue’s reach of a toad.
    Each swallowed.
    Chemical explosions soon showed
    toads bulging, swelling,
    changing shape –
    till finally, through emesis,
    they let their prey escape.

    Our results? All beetles were ejected –
    and survived. No toads died.
    We timed explosions, measured vomit,
    observed from every side.
    We’ve now described how toxic creatures
    can avoid digestion.
    Ah yes sir, at the back there,
    do you have a question?


    Reference
    Sugiura, S., Sato, T. 2018 Successful escape of bombardier beetles from predator digestive systems. Biol.Lett. 14: 20170647. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2017.0647

    Feature Image: Japanese Common Toad by Yasunori Koide.