New Poetry by Martin Durkin

1. Khoba

A cowboy rolls in
takes the money.
his mind
is certain about the job
but he can't make a
decision about
life
or
more matter in fact
about
the past
his, hers, any of it

****

His body is in
chains
the rain pours
only for him
as he feels he
doesn't deserve the touch
of the warm sun

****

His hand is quick
he believes in heaven
and hell
he holds no hesitation
about pulling the
trigger
or
where this path will take
him

****

One day he finds himself
inside a
chapel
sitting in a
pew
he looks at
Jesus pulled down
from the cross
and he wonders
about a word
regarding
debt and sin.
although the body
of Jesus is
dead
he sees something
in the statues
eyes

****

He pictures her in
his mind
frozen for him
and smiling.
his boot's shift under
the pew
as he reopens his eyes

****

There is a partial weight lifted,
his horse drops head and
snorts
he throws a leg over
and
rides.

- Martin Durkin 2015

Over the past four years Durkin has been published in various anthologies and literary magazines including: ByWords, The Dream, Niagara Falls Poetry Project, E-zine, Blurred Blue Tattoo, AnotherTorontoQuarterly.com, Jones Ave., Origins, and Subterranean Quarterly. Durkin spends his time taking part in poetry readings across southern Ontario, being a freelance writer/photographer in Greater Toronto Area, and was the poetry editor for Origins Literary Magazine.