Strong Man Juggles Sledgehammer and Fire

Dawn Wood, originally of Omagh, now of Dundee, is a tutor in Medical Education and a hypnotherapist as well as a poet. Her various careers elide nicely in “Strong Man Juggles Sledgehammer and Fire” which is taken from her latest collection As Mind Imagines World (Templar Poetry, £10). From the simple act of witnessing a street entertainer, Wood fashions a poem that tries – and admits failure in its final lines – to make sense of the sensory impressions swirling around her. News headlines, birds, the sun’s reflection and the busker’s banter bounce off each other, the poet sensitive to a heady mix of signals.

World Premier or whatever his patter, not even the headlines on the Zurich Tower linger – 8 ways the US job market has expanded in Obama’s presidency – bat-friendly tequila – research plays role in species recovery – cyber experts report chasing ghosts that drift along and the busker’s bluster gathers 2, 4…7…oh 10 – mothers, children, pigeons – before he gives up – something doesn’t feel quite right I’m going to stop I’m calling it a halt, enjoy your morning! A second sun rises on the 11th floor behind him. He flicks off the mike. Watch him from upstairs – in no rush, dismantling his liturgical effects – the words were circling round my brain but I couldn’t quite grab them –