POETRY Reading: Jemimah, by Alex McCulloch

Performed by Val Cole

POEM:

McCulloch
Would you like to dance?
I could sing your name out slowly
Je-
Mi-
Mah
Lullaby loosely word that reminds me
Of syrup
I mean clearly the marketers knew what they were doing
Because your name still sounds like a poem to me

A deep southern love song
A windy romance

Would you show me the hills?
Walk me up and down
Je-
Mi-
Mah
Weaving through pathways like crochet
Slowly
Until the day fades into stardust
Until the scent grows sweet with the coming dew

I don’t care what colour you are
I care what sunset you bring to your eyes in the morning
And the cadences of your
Laughter

You could sing to me in yellow

Would you want to breathe?
A cathartic huh, huh, huh
Je-
Mi-
Ma
Mah
Muh
Uh
Uh

Uh

Jerimiah was a bullfrog
But you are beautiful
They have not copyrighted your smile
Nor have they formulated your recipe

But I bet I could memorize your walk
I bet I could sell your scent
If you ever gave me the rights

Romeo was a lover
But I’m sure on someone else that name fits like
A ripped pair of jeans

I think Juliet was right

I cannot imagine you anyone else
Anywhere else
Anybody else

Would you smile at me?
I could ease your awkward tendencies
Je-
Mi-
Mah
Oscillating violin strings
Slow moan

I mean you make me want to make you sing
But you keep your perfect mouth closed

Some locks don’t have a key