Captive, by Scott Elder

Fille et Corbeaux, by Majlen Sanchez (France). Contemporary.

Captive

This is my river, she lisped, the blood flow
from the wine glass to my swollen lip.  

It runs deeper than rib or bone.
It's my repair and moving home.

Ravens came to drink her tears.
She knew that nothing could stem their thirst.

Do stay awhile, she whispered,
I'll dance a song for you.

We'll drink together the winter through
and keep good company.

The moon was a glimmer in the stem of her glass,
her look tender as an open wound.

Scott Elder

This poem was first published in Orbis Quarterly International Journal.
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​Scott Elder’s poems have been appeared in numerous magazines including The New Welsh Review, Southword (forthcoming), Orbis, The Moth, Poetry Salzburg, Cyphers, Cake, Nimrod International, The Antigonish Review, The French Literary Review, Crannog and The Journal. He was a runner-up in the Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2016 and among the winners of The Guernsey International Poetry Competition 2018 and Southport Writer’s Circle Competition 2017. His work has been highly commended in the Bristol Poetry Prize 2018, Poetry on the Lake International Competition 2018, Buzzwords Poetry Competition 2018, the Segora Poetry Competition 2015 the Brian Dempsey Memorial Competition 2017, and shortlisted in both the Fish Poetry Prize 2017 and the Plough Prize 2016 and 2017. His debut pamphlet, 'Breaking Away' 2015 was published by Poetry Salzburg and a first collection 'Part of the Dark' 2017 was published by Dempsey & Windle.
Poetry sites:   https://www.scottelder.co.uk/