Jeffrey Side

Two poems

Something That Was Not Fragmented / I Can’t Make You Wrong No More

Something That Was Not Fragmented

I contemplate a part of
your beauty that is
like having a new key, or
like holding a snake that
has had its venom emasculated.

The battle with that serpent is
almost over, and the
joys of the fruit will soon
be settled.

You are the designer of
my limitations. You are the
root of my fervour, and
I am caught in your days.

I spent too much time on
the reckoning and not
enough on the shoreline — or
so it was mentioned to me.

You knew the sea would
cure me, though, but not
for how long.


I Can’t Make You Wrong No More

I can still recall her
nightmares and the sack
that she wore, when she
was then drinking and
we danced in Baltimore.

When I’m out with many
women, things are not
that clear. I never had it
like this before. Something
always keeps me here.

She came here for a
reason. I don’t care
what she said. I need to
see some people,
and bring it to a head

But I’ve got other
things you still need
to do. And I find
things so hard that I’ve
got to give it to you.

And out in the darkness
when there’s not
much to share, I still rouse
up new dissenters
lighter than the air.

Jeffrey Side has had poetry published in various magazines such as Poetry Salzburg Review, and on poetry web sites such as Underground Window, A Little Poetry, Poethia, Nthposition, Eratio, Pirene’s Fountain, Ancient Heart, Blazevox, Lily, Big Bridge, Jacket, Textimagepoem, Apochryphaltext, 9th St. Laboratories, P.F.S. Post, Great Works, Hutt, Poets’ Corner, The Dande Review, Poetry Bay and Dusie. He has reviewed poetry for Jacket, Eyewear, The Colorado Review, New Hope International, Stride magazine, Acumen, and Shearsman magazine. From 1996 to 2000 he was the assistant editor of The Argotist magazine. He has three poetry books available, Carrier of the Seed (Blazevox), Slimvol (cPress) and (with Jake Berry) Cyclones in High Northern Latitudes (Lavender Ink).