Introduction

We are pleased to bring our friend Frederick K Foote back for another round of poetry. We have decided to give his five new poems their own day, each with an image as a method to create a festive mood for his work. The Springs is a site forever in development and changes are commonplace. We hope that this new way of showing the works of our poets is pleasing. The Eds.

Leavings by Frederick K. Foote
 
Death explodes in reds and golds
Fireworks of visual delights
Celebrate the edge of night
We wish we could fall so bright

(Image by CJA)

Crow Calls by Frederick K. Foote

Caw, Caw, Caw
One note, black crow
calls the farmer to his fields
calls the trader to her deals
calls the revelers to their merrymaking
calls the butcher to the slaughterhouse
leads the bullets to the body
calls the blood from the wounds
summons the spirit from the flesh
calls the crocodiles to a feast of tears

(Image by CJA)

Crosses by Frederick K Foote

You suffer me
I tolerate you
We pull together
to push apart
to bitter ends
You grieve loudly
I endure resentfully
Days without end
our endless days
bleed into restless
nights until one of us
breaks down
one last time

Gone by Frederick K Foote

She smokes dope
skips rope
drinks wine
has a hella time
Plays the blues
brings the news
pays her dues
Wears out dancing shoes
lies with her lips
heals with her hips
I miss her to the bone
and deeper still

Pill Popping Pity Party by Frederick K Foote

My pills, pillars of my existence
arrive rattling a cheery greeting
Chemical lifelines forming
a noose of side effects
dependency and resentments
They are the masters
of my manners and ways
And I their slave
for all my long, live days