Most Read... John McAuliffeBill Manhire in Conversation with John McAuliffe
(PN Review 259)
Patricia CraigVal Warner: A Reminiscence
(PN Review 259)
Joshua WeinerAn Exchange with Daniel Tiffany/Fall 2020
(PN Review 259)
Eavan BolandA Lyric Voice at Bay
(PN Review 121)
Vahni CapildeoOn Judging Prizes, & Reading More than Six Really Good Books
(PN Review 237)
Christopher MiddletonNotes on a Viking Prow
(PN Review 10)
Next Issue Sinead Morrissey 'The Lightbox' Philip Terry 'What is Poetry' Ned Denny 'Nine Poems after Verlaine' Sasha Dugdale 'On learning that Russian mothers buy their soldier sons lucky belts inscribed with Psalm 90 to wear into battle' Rod Mengham 'Cold War Hot Air'
Poems Articles Interviews Reports Reviews Contributors
Reader Survey
PN Review Substack

This poem is taken from PN Review 254, Volume 46 Number 6, July - August 2020.

‘Death’ and other poems Nell Prince
Plectrum My Ribs

Do. Pilfer a penny.
Put it between these ribs.
Make them ring. Force
out the hollow they hold.

Go on. The penny’s your
pick. So pluck me a song.  
Stab at the empty. Tune
and strum my obsolete ribs.

Sing along. Strike up a
lick. Shake me. Thrum
where a heart once


Death

Your signature is poppy,
red sprawl contrived to make
a grave less dull, a field
...


Searching, please wait... animated waiting image