Hugh Carroll

ink 
 
popping the lid 
on a violent heaven
 
ink 
squiggles off the stick 
bone ivory  
annihilating into 
cerulean blue 
becoming sky 
its aroma 
intoxicating 
a vibration 
you can breathe 
 
iris widens 
pure magenta 
cyan conjuring 
with indigo 
and jade 
 
somehow eyes feel 
the frequencies 
down to the feet 
redolent 
with memory
 
summer’s goldenrod boyhood yellow 
September’s burnt melancholy ochre 
violet’s first amethyst kiss 
red’s primal scarlet uproar 
midnight’s longing blue quiet
forest’s calm emerald pulse
 
the ink by itself 
was always more exciting 
than any shapes they made 
on paper 
 


Hugh Carroll (he/him, aka 'Hughie', UK, male, 58) was a circus performer. A serious accident in 1991 lead to a long disability. Writing helps! He's also into zen, kites, tech and chess.