Allan Lake

Australia

Originally from Saskatchewan, Allan Lake has lived in Vancouver, Cape Breton Island, Ibiza, Tasmania and, for now, Melbourne. Collection: Sand in the Sole (2014). Lake won Lost Tower Publications (UK) Poetry Comp 2017 and Melbourne Spoken Word Poetry Festival Comp 2018. Besides Australia, he has been published in Canada, UK, USA, Mauritius, India, West Indies, Italy and Nigeria.

Blue Hole

Your sharp word, at such a moment, poked a hOle where

cumulus of comfort usually pools. Operating table

hard and cold like single syllable that's now

lodged and festering in gut-tangle

under fresh wound. Evidence

of the power of words,

even a short

one.