Located in the chest, somewhere
between the lungs
and slightly to the left,
this muddle mass of bleeding ache
this muddle filled with mitre gates
this pump
to redistribute
the energy for breath
located
in the chest
somewhere between the lungs
and slightly to the left
barrier to head farrier to heart
functions without conscious while I rake
to find the time when it was mended,
seek my interlocuter,
rhythm redolent of antirrhinum
back forth
tick tock
heart beat
heart
beat.
located in the chest
somewhere
between the lungs and slightly
to the left
this heated heart of argument of
flashing eye, of stinging slap, of failed child
a one way door to stop
me flowing backwards
located in the chest somewhere
between the lungs and slightly
to the left
this hollow mass of muscle
another
fragile
breath.
When I think of my heart (these are the beats that made me)
I think of a mess and a mass;
blood pumped this way and that,
bruises, purple and red.
Yellow fat lingers, legacy of weak will,
descries its moment to strike.
When I think of my heart
I think of a mess and a mass;
hidden under guise of the ox—
quiet - beats just enough,
no flicker – neighbours might see
Flutter of panic or pain.
When I think of my heart
I think of a mess and a mass;
spaghetti junction.
Lives cannon in, disturb,
abandon,
leave scorch lines
so deep it falls still.
When I think of my heart
I think of a mess and a mass;
rhythm soothe beat of the sea.
Tempo, euphony
deepen my song—
sung low to you
who loved me.
Kathryn is a writer based in Shropshire. She writes short fiction, flash fiction and poetry. She has no formal education in creative writing but she reads every poetry book she can get her hands on, and enjoys various online writing groups and courses.
Kathryn has M.E., which brings its own challenges to her working practice, and means she has to monitor her activity with great care. Despite the frustration of these limitations she has reached her goal of having work published, thanks to support from Nine Arches Press Dynamo mentoring scheme.
Kathryn has work published or forthcoming in print magazines like Mslexia, Popshot Quarterly and The Dawntreader and online in places like Words for the Wild, Nine Muses Poetry, Sledgehammer and Riggwelter Press. She was longlisted for the 2019 Fish prize for short fiction, and Paper Swans Press single poem prize in 2020.
Kathryn is a columnist for Spelt Magazine, and has recently been awarded a micro bursary from Raven Studios in Shrewsbury to work on a new pamphlet. She also accepts private commissions under the moniker Poems from the Hare.
When her health allows, Kathryn works as a freelance copywriter and can write confidently across a range of subjects, including travel, food, literature, hospitality and customer service. In addition to these core topics, excellent research skills means she can tackle subjects as diverse as muscle cars and dog training. She takes on proofreading and editing work as requested. You can find out more at her business site
https://thewordemporium.wordpress.com/
Kathryn loves language and its persuasive power. Most of all she loves to write.
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Kathryn Anna Marshall 