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Writer's pictureAlistair Appleton

Symbiosis / Em Gray

Em Gray is a neurodivergent poet from Brighton and this haptic, ticklish poem was commended in the Forward Prize this year. Simple as it is, it reads with such inner balance and intensely 'felt' images - " a moment's velvet" or "placing/chandeliers" - that I really love it.


I've seen a horse

take the soft folds of a dog's scruff

between her corn kernel teeth.


He, quite forgetting the bones of himself,

dangled some seconds

before being lowered down.


The care of that horse

as if she were practised in placing

chandeliers, or weighing sacks of truffles

with her mouth


and how the dog paused

as if to reassure the horse

of no awkwardness between them

after that solemn transaction of theirs


in which (I like to think)

no liberties were taken

save a horse who wished

a moment's velvet on her grassy tongue,

an old dog's wish to float.

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This comment is totally inappropriate in this place.

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patti G
patti G
Mar 08

You can actually feel the gentleness here, so beautiful.

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Glenda Hancox
Mar 05

Beautiful.

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So sweet and gentle. 🐕🐴

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Trev
Trev
Mar 05

Love, love, love! This is actually perfect. I can feel my own body holding itself boneless in response. 🙌❤️

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