[lineate]I taught this poem[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=5]about shape[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=7]as meaning, its form[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=6]worked in pink ink[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=8]and then cut this line,[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=6]the pleasureword trimmed[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=2]away for access, for display,[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=6]and it’s possible this poem[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate]won’t be believed[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=5]because it invited me[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=6]in for a drink,[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=6]and the rising inflection[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=8]at this end of this poem[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=6]will make you doubt[/lineate]
[stanza][lineate indent=9]what it says?[/lineate]
~ Annabel Banks
Annabel Banks is a literary artist who works in both poetry and prose. She is also an academic and the originator of The Poiesis Project. Annabel won both of Cambridge University’s creative writing prizes, the Ryan Kinsella Poetry Prize and the RSC “Other” Prize for theatre. She subsequently won full funding for both her MA in prose and her practice-based poetry PhD. When not writing Annabel has nursed sick robots, built F1 cars, and lectured for English and Creative Writing degrees.