Mine is a copper weathervane’s hen’s eye view:Vertigo. Looking down on Sir Walter’s pigeon stained head Thick wavy hair, so lush, did he wear a wig?Above greywedding cake tiers, right hand holds walking stick In case you don’t know who he isLeft hand grips documents, manuscripts Erected by Ritchie for the Gentlemen of the County, […]
The staves steady under foot; she knows which to
avoid. A creature of habit, the kettle warms.
I couldn’t touch a stop and turn a screw,And set the blooming world a-work for me,Like such as cut their teeth — I hope, like you —On the handle of a skeleton gold key;I cut mine on a leek, which I eat it every week:I’m a clerk at thirty bob as you can see. But […]
You’ve already admitted that you came unprepared.
You’ve already admitted that you need them
more than they need you.
Built like a gorilla but less timid,
thick-fleshed, steak-coloured, with two
hieroglyphs in his face that mean
trouble,
Do you have the one
/ with that poem they read at the funeral
/ in that movie?…
The heid-bummer, prood wi a ryaltie o a shillin a ton
/ lik the hovein o the coals alow the hauch o…
Gave yet another lecture. God, I’m boring.
/ Said all the same old things I’ve said before
/ With touches of ‘however-ing’ and ‘therefore-ing’.
/ Dear…
Who can gauge our range or pace? Every woman, / a signal tower, an illusion, a ship bearing dead ahead.
It’s like painting / the Forth Bridge / without the fresh air / and fear / of drowning.
I originally wanted to be a witch
/ Sitting inside a Leiden jar
/ In the pathology museum.
/ My fallback application
/ Was to be one of…
(from the photo with the same title by Don McCullin)
/
/ A pipe fitter’s mate at the gates of dawn
/ Is wrenched from…
