TAYLOR STRICKLAND

‘ ’

How monitor turns to loch
takes imagination, likewise the
not-for-profit profitable data lake:
columns, streaks-in-the-making,
their fathoms only healthcare
could dream, or dream up.
Langmuir circulation,
the wind-script. Huge bluelit
depths through which souls slide
like slender naiad, aibhneag.
We value, translate soul.
Analogy veils what it reveals,
even nothing. Say nothing holds
or is held by a single empty string.
Quoted blank. Two apostrophes
that can quote blank. See what
the analyst’s longing seeks,
then leaves? A wee placeholder
whose length is less than less than.
Neither/nor. The shortest gospel.
Zero thing, an empty string
zeroing in on nothingness.
I would expect nothing less.

Taylor Strickland is the author of Dastram/Delirium, 2023 Scottish Poetry Book of the Year, and a Poetry Book Society Translation Choice. Dwell Time, his next collection, will be released in November 2025. His work has featured in Poetry London, Poetry Northwest, New Statesman, The TLS, and elsewhere. He lives in Glasgow.