Posted 27.04.11 in Writing

‘At Dark’ by Alex Hawkins-Hooker

Drank a glass, had a fag:
That’s a start…at dark, lay back,
Watch stars amass: a grand

And awkward sprawl.
All that’s bad at dark shall fall
All that’s bad shall fall, shall pass.

At dark, man can say:
– Was always sad; am happy at last.

Can man stay happy?
Can’t say. Why ask?

 

Alex Hawkins-Hooker wrote ‘At Dark’ in response to Ross Sutherland’s Univocal Challenge.

Ross Sutherland says: Considering the demands of the constraint, I think it’s pretty amazing for someone to use it to sustain a philosophical discussion without ever being derailed by the need for another vowel. The opener and closer are both killers, too. “Can man stay happy? Can’t say. Why ask?” The trials of existentialism couldn’t be put more succinctly.

Comments (4)

4 Responses to “‘At Dark’ by Alex Hawkins-Hooker”

1. Helen says:

   April 28, 2011 at 10:53 pm

   Wow. I want more. To me, the rhythm seems to make each line so much more of an understated statement. And I agree with Ross – the last two lines are what every poet wants to be: short and clever.

   Reply
2. Emma says:

   April 30, 2011 at 1:20 pm

   Wow. (Again.)

   Reply
3. The Wig says:

   May 1, 2011 at 11:40 am

   Can man stay happy?
   Can’t say. Why ask?

   God, that just hits it. This one if my fave.

   Reply
4. Kate says:

   July 13, 2011 at 2:30 pm

   This amazed me – i just had to sit back for a moment. It really captures the feeling of content, and – well – it has to be one of my favorites.

   Reply