Smokestack by Bryn Fortey

Blues records rarely bothered chart
compilers in the UK, but in 1964
“Smokestack Lightnin’” by Howlin’
Wolf hovered around the lower end
of the top fifty for around five weeks.

Wolfman’s voice
Dark
Powerful
An indestructible force
Big man
Big sound
A record to play over and over
Wolfman don’t take no crap

Tall chimney
Crematorium blues
Floating swirling wisps of grey
Lost heart
Flowers and flames
Last goodbyes

Smokestack now
Dark and sinister
Newly imagined
Changed perception

A life in tears
A life in ashes

Goodbye
Goodbye

A veteran of the writing game for more years than he cares to remember, Bryn Fortey edited the well received (at the time) OUTLAW,
a post-Beat poetry magazine from the 70s and at the same time had short stories in FONTANA anthologies, among others. After a
while away from the literary scene he recently returned with both fiction and poetry acceptances. In 2014 The Alchemy Press published
his debut collection MERRY-GO-ROUND, combining short stories and poetry in one book.