Guest Poem by Sam Cassels

I live on a farm in Scotland and have pursued a career in strategic design internationally, with a focus on place-making and storytelling. My work and my writing, whether poetry, short stories, or essays seeks to find the authentic in our everyday lives. I have previously had two stories broadcast on BBC Radio, one of which was shortlisted for the Macallan Prize, and more recently poems published in Acumen, Ver, and a short story in The Lighthouse Journal. This poem is from Acumen 111.

Anvils

I have this dream
of anvils dropping
from a quiet sky.

A scene in a B-movie
from the Cold War era
in glorious black and white.

A heavenly protest
from the gods of war
as they lay down their tools.

A Dali painting
of shadows falling
on the face of the earth.

Or just a rain of violence
from the blacksmith hands
of my unmet grandfather.