A Certain Degree

Daniel Barkley

Riding Ariel

“Her rigorous intelligence

and determination, her

powerful and demanding

creative drive, require a

certain degree of stamina

from the reader.”

—David Trinidad, “Hidden

in Plain Sight: On Sylvia

Plath's Missing Journals,

Plath Profiles 3 Supplement

_______________

Blue dripping drizzle—

Dull green tragic remorse

Dim yellow reflections

A purging, a baptism

Deep breaths and—

Possibility of getting close

To the world of things

And animal solaces

_______________

Publishing poetry—

Bitch Queen Arielesque

A blond boy named Ariel

Riding sidesaddle with me

Young juvenile delinquent—

One of a gang of youth out

For Halloween last night

Unrhymed & unreasonable

____________________

Wet fresh grey skies—

Dull smoke-purple and

Blunt umber afternoons

A double amazement

His name is Ariel—

The rebirth of my Other

His soul both handsome

And very troublesome