The Manic Defence

The Manic Defence

The Manic Defence is their eyes seeing us
pupils pointing in our direction
as we assess:
is that person’s pupil in the visual-middle of their ‘eye white’?
Does that mean I’m liked?

Eyes lovingly regard us
as we forget the ability
of eyes to lie
to look half interestedly –
to flick, to flirt, to flitter.
We are being watched for signs
that we’re watching back
and so pretend a dance of looks.

Eyes full or empty, have clocks for pupils
ant’s legs for clock hands
ants eggs for eyelids
ink pools for sunglass.
Who can stand to have their eyes so scrutinised?

Our job is to replace ourselves
but we desire our memories to live on
I combine breasts with USB sticks
a whole ants’ nest of eyeballs masquerading as ant eggs
ready to hatch into attention piles.

And wings, everything has wings to fly away.

The Manic Defence – available as a free e-book here:
PDF Download

THE ROTTEN TAROT LAUNCH EVENT!

Supertime Books & Jody Barton present a brand new Tarot deck with completely new ideas, artwork and metaphors in keeping with the dismal and comic age in which we cower. Laugh, cry and hurl as you utilise these exquisite esoteric fortune telling cards to re-order your own disordered life(style) into something yet more baroque and disassociative. Meet the artist and writer of this romantic deluge Jody Barton, get him to sign your cards, pummel him for insights into the fog you call ‘your life’ and be a good member of society, turning up to awkwardly meet other people with obliquely similar interests. Drinks, salty snacks, maybe a playlist – Jody might even ‘talk’. It’s gonna be a gas.

SUPERTIME BOOKS
Thursday April 3rd 2025, 17:00 to 19:00
Blågårdsgade 31c 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark