Author name: Hayden Veil

In an earlier incarnation, Hayden Veil enjoyed a successful career in software engineering, writing late-night poetry in pursuit of sanity. On 2 February 2020, the world of Hayden Veil changed: Ghosts became real and with its soul laid bare there was no turning back from the perpetual path of poetry.

LIQUID DEATH

She sometimes falls
into the alcohole.
Deep and dark and
wet, trying hard to stay
afloat whilst gulping
the liquid death.
Knowing all to well
that the bottomless pit
offers nothing but sorrow,
guilt and regret. Though
she tends to forget.

PEEVISH

I’m leaking
from holes I
didn’t know
existed.
Patience
once abundant
now nearly
depleted.
When dried,
crumbled and
brittle, the tiniest
of sparks
wreaking
havoc in me –
the dust
never settling.

ESSENCE OF GRACE

detach the cord
feeding the stars
black as blackest
night behold.

winter solstice
turning tides
surfing waves of
tomorrow’s delight.

trace the grey
in clouds above
none be found
darkness abide.

hand in hand
desire ablaze
harbouring the
Essence of Grace

A SAFER SHORE

We Barged once
On canals like
Veins through The Fens
In Silence bar
The Engine and
The Rows
Stuck at night
Rescued but
Never quite right
Wanting more
Dreaming
Hoping
Wishing
for a safer shore

REST MY DEAR

rest my dear
the journey goes on,
far from over
though nights
grow longer and
days go darker
the road ahead
twisted and turned
alit by the fire in
your eyes alone
preparing the mind
crossing the stars
banishing fears
poisoning the
heart

IN SILENCE

Build me a closet with
white padded walls and
a radiator to
keep me warm.

Bring me a candle,
ink and a pen,
papyrus in excess
please my friend.

Sing me a song of
friendship and
laughter, blue sky
above meadows,
dancing and flowers.

Wave me goodbye as
the door is closing,
the key turned twice
clockwise
in silence.

FRIENDSHIP AND LAUGHTER

“Carry me, carry me down to the sea. I feel an urge to plunge, the sea is calling me” – we sang, and drank, and cheered and drank again. Singing songs of dreams, scores and whores we grew up, those tender years, filled with vinyl, friendship and fears. One winter’s night the dreams were shattered, footsteps leading to a hole in the ice. You left us there, you plunged into darkness, you left no trace, only memories of friendship and laughter.

REJOICE

Rejoice in light and
polyunsaturated
fat
Your dark spots
reduced by sucking
hand-grenades
Your wet spot remain
the only
evidence
I was ever
there

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