Mary Ford Neal

The Winds Blow Truth

Ekphrastic on W A Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 23 in A Major (II. Adagio)

When the winds come in at 0.46 I think about all the fuckery, the chicanery, the deadly
vertiginous gamery, and about the necessity of telling the truth. Oh yes, I know, we’re not
supposed to mention truth, but here it is—I’m listening to it. The winds blow truth—listen.
Isn’t it better to stop pretending? Truth doesn’t really hurt like they say, not for long. It only
comes when you are ready, and it sits down gently. It holds out a soft hand to cup your face
while the unravelling happens. Come over here and sit beside me—it’s 4.23 and the winds
are about to come in again. Screw your whole life to something strong and listen.

Mary Ford Neal is a writer and academic from the west of Scotland. She is the author of two poetry collections: Dawning (Indigo Dreams, 2021) and Relativism (Taproot Press, 2022). Her poems have been published in various magazines and anthologies, including Bad Lilies, One Hand Clapping, Long Poem Magazine, Ink Sweat and Tears, Dust, and Atrium. Mary is an assistant editor of Nine Pens Press and 192 Magazine.