TWO Poems
(Self-Portrait as a CIRCLE)
Edward DOEGAR
Self-Portrait as a Circle
Like
For Like
Following
My followers
Opinion
Accumulating
Favourites
Suggestions
Based on
My preferences
To date
My cache
Is as clear
As my conscience
A site
Of incitement
To hope
I share
A belief
In refreshing
The present
I pin
A safety pin
To ((( )))
GRAVY
The new vogue
Of looking out the window
Can be likened
To the old vogue for views
Without being too obtuse
As gravy is to the roast potato
So it must be
To the chip and soon
To the twice-fried fries
They no longer serve as a side
Saying this to myself
And you
Is the admission of nothing
For nothing
A trade in senseless deficit
Of course
Looking in through the aperture
Of my own reflection
The vessel rests
Neither ruined nor complete
On your lips
The only decision lingers
Either itch or ache
As if words were a recipe
For Elizabeth Bishop
Edward DOEGAR’s poems, translations and reviews have appeared in various magazines, including Poetry Review, Prac Crit, Poetry Wales and The Manchester Review. He is a Complete Works fellow and six of his poems are featured in the Bloodaxe anthology Ten: The New Wave. He works at The Poetry Society and is currently an assistant editor at Rialto.