Trophy

Hmm, fiendish prompt. Writing without any adjectives is very difficult. Especially to such a striking image. Here is the poem stripped of adjectives - I think, I may have missed one or two:


Trophy


My spoils surround me. I have created
a trove, ranged the necklet beside the raven

‘Where did you find this?’ His
Paws close over the hilt of the blow-pipe
I wrenched from the claw of a fighter
left in the mud. I lift his hand

Remind him: ‘No prize won,
son, if you didn’t risk everything you had
getting it. Now stand, yes, hold.
Don’t flinch.’

I ready myself to shoot.