Roy Joseph Cotton – September 11, '53 – March 10, '85

Roy commenced writing poetry during his latter school years. He read prolifically and was passionate about music and was a devote to Bob Dylan. He wrote many plays or "Musical Paintings" as he called them, and was also busy with two works "Multimythicum" and "Girlpools, Whirpools, and other gusts of Twirling Hair". He wrote from the security of a warm, close family in a comfortable Cape Town (South Africa) suburb. Yet most of his huge output of poems reflect a consuming angst. It was an angst which drove him to search for peace throughout books, music, writing, and religion, and it led to ultimate despair. His highly idiosyncratic way with language and the intense pressure of his emotional and spiritual concerns make his poetry compelling and disturbing reading. His untimely death at age of 31 cut short his promising career as a poet.

Her Whom I Will Surely Meet

HER WHOM I WILL SURELY MEET

When i go down
through the orchard’s
scuffling leaves
i never know
how to anticipate
her whom i will surely meet;
her giant blossoms
billowing:
a different voice
beckons me
whenever i draw near
but i who have been
too hasty
to pluck wild oranges
for her mouth
can offer her only
in outstretched arms
the moments
that have brought
me rushing
through the gaudy trees

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