Jak Payne
Article
Jak Payne grew up in Peckham, South London. His work has been featured in several online and printed publications, including Script Illuminated, We Are RE: and The Belleville Park Pages.
Email: jakpayne@hotmail.co.uk
View as PDF: Jak Payne - Poetry
Paranoia
In this age of spy satellites
there it is!
the top of my head
indelible as a thumbprint
and round as a grape –
stop and take your time with me
as you watch over the central conglomerate
of television screens
in your own way angelic
before driving home in a
Ford Mondeo
or something equally
forgettable.
Racehorses
The rules of horseracing make it clear
No two animals can be named the same,
There was only ever one
Deep Impact crashing
Into the verge,
Passed with ease
By the irrefutable
Grand Flaneur,
When I speak of
Quintessence
There can be no confusion
About which mare I mean.
It’s the sweetest deal
For any animal
To know that for sure
you’re the genuine article
and so proud as to shudder with it,
Stamp with the irreducible selfknowing,
That no Tom, Dick or Harry can share in.
Icebergs
Word for word you said:
how all men should be like icebergs
how unarmed you are by hidden depths
you said there’s nothing sexier
than a man pulling off
a quiet catastrophe of nature.
So tough luck for me
who isn’t known
to pass by, silently in the night
felt but not seen, like the
after-tow of grave events
but will always be left splish-splashing
around with my words
my Save My Souls.
