New Poetry by Bruce McRae

It Touches Us

Tragedy lurks behind a buttercup.

It throws its voice down in the dust,

circling anti-clockwise on its insect-legs,

scribbling ambush in your diary,

singing like a window breaking.

Tragedy travels badly.

To be kissed by this abomination

is much like suffering frostbite.

Already the hours are missing.

Already there's a knife in the bed.

Mockery is its prime art,

its playground an earthen cellar,

its school hall a cold bath.

How many centuries has it looked up

at the stars from its well-bottom?

Beyond faith, luck, trust,

and God and love . . .

In the eyes of animals.

In the book of the soul.

In a time without time.

And you, with your soft hands,

safe house and niceties;

tragedy loves you best of all.

Already you're outwitted,

and the buttercup mourned.

- Bruce McRae 2014

Pushcart-nominee Bruce McRae is a Canadian musician with over 800 publications, including Poetry.com and The North American Review. His first book, ‘The So-Called Sonnets’ is available from the Silenced Press website or via Amazon books. To hear his music and view more poems visit his website: www.bpmcrae.com, or ‘TheBruceMcRaeChannel’ on Youtube.