Immortal Consumption

by Ward Kelley

There the source, there the junction,
here the lips, here the grace, here
the immortal consumption, and it

is clear you can watch me track
across the centuries, not ready
to make it known by blatant

talk or signs, not quite ready,
you know, but happy to rely
on Spicer’s little radio receivers,

an electric electorate, one could
say, but that is in the nature of
the poem, no matter which side

of the divide you currently inhabit.
So where is the source, you or me,
in this junction? Your lips or my

grace? Who can tell? Yet it is clear
there must be a collaboration for
our particular sparks of insanity.

Artist’s note:
John Keats (1795-1821), was an English poet who, some critics say, underwent the most productive spurt ever of any English poet (1818-1820). He once said, “My mind has been the most discontented and restlessone that ever was put into a body too small for it.” Previously his mother and brother had died of tuberculosis, and Keats himself contracted the disease in 1820 then traveled to Rome seeking a respite. Not granted one, he made a deathbed request that his tombstone bear no name, but only “Here lies one whose name was writ in water.” When Shelley drowned in Italy the following year, a book of Keats’ poems was discovered in his pocket.

Ward Kelley has seen more than 700 of his poems appear in journals world wide since he began publishing in 1996. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Kelley's publication credits include such journals as: ACM Another Chicago Magazine, Rattle, Sunstone, Spillway, Porcupine Literary Magazine, Pif, 2River View, Oblique, Offcourse, Potpourri and Skylark. He has been honored as featured poet for Seeker Magazine, Physik Garden, Poetry Life & Times, and Pyrowords.
E-mail: Ward708@aol.com
Writing interests: Poetry
I.D. Theory articles: "Spiritus Mundi" | "Immortal Consumption"
Links: http://www.wardkelley.com