Thursday, December 1, 2022: Max Kerwien's "Butchery Lane" and "Congestion"

Max Kerwien is a poet and comedian. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Washington. In 2016,

he won the Joan Grayston Poetry Prize. In 2018, he published his first collection of poetry, Poems to Ruin Dinner With.

His work has been published in the decomp Journal, the DASH Literary Journal, and more.

Butchery Lane

Canterbury in a hurry,

sleet-covered feet a flurry

on the brown brick road, snow set

in the ridges of the pattering stone,

thin homes line the street like

the hills of North Downs, hustling

bodies a blurry crowd, faces not quite

a frown but a phase, their dimples

a curving maze, forehead lines

point to the day’s end when the lane,

abandoned by wayfarers, prepares

lantern gold light for its evening

rite, the day caked on by a pane

of flaky snow base, refreshing

the stones for tomorrow’s race.

© 2022 Max Kerwien

Congestion

On the train ride there is a turn

in the tracks and around the bend

if you are sitting on the right side

the city will rise to meet you

with its greens and reds ready

for the season, tipsy with height

Below the graffiti of Sodo speaks

a short story. If you must continue

prepare to be yourself

I said I would write on the way

home from the airport, but with

only a pen and paper and headphones

peacekeeping silvers

the roil of the rail

and the city splitting between me

it is not enough

© 2022 Max Kerwien