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Joint 2nd Prize, Second Light Poetry
Competition, 2006;
published in Mxlexia, No. 30.
The Photographer's
Apprentice
I
have been taught to measure and sift
the
lightening powders. I love their names,
the
burning power within, chlorate of potash,
sulphurate
antimony, gunpowder, pyroxylin
and
magnesium. They are poisonous, rank,
evil,
are most dangerous to work, being fierce
and
unpredictable when transformed into heat
or
light that scorches. I burn crushed sugar
with
potash or sprinkle magnesium powder
onto
guncotton or grains of saltpetre.
Monsieur
waves and I light the powders
but
today I am distracted.
The
studio is dark in winter light; the mirrors
gleam
with slivers, scimitars of silver.
The
woman undresses, my body swollen
by
heat as she unpins her hair. It explodes
over
her soft pale flesh. Monsieur is impatient,
shouts,
Allez! So I strike the allumette,
return
the woman’s smile, forget to remove
my
hand as powder ignites and detonates
while
the mirror disintegrates in a green shower.
Margaret Speak
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