for Kevin Barnes
the male you notice
first his head smashed
to bottle glass
the female flailing still
lifts her head
not yet dead though
in her death throes no
choice but to wring
her neck click
you walk away walk back
all the same
millionaire façades
& summer makes marmalade
of the day the tang & rind
on your tongue
linger
behind you
huge seas like
shock crash
& oddly compelled
you pluck one feather
belonging to the male
Taylor Strickland
Taylor Strickland is the author of Dastram/Delirium, 2023 Scottish Poetry Book of the Year and a PBS Translation Choice. His work has featured in Poetry London, New Statesman, The TLS, The Scotsman, Poetry Northwest, and elsewhere. He lives in Glasgow with his wife, Lauren, and daughter, Eimhir.