IS ENCOURAGEMENT MEANT TO INCUR RAGE?
Somebody said
you’d be better off dead
so you tried suicide
That didn’t work
and now you feel a jerk
but cheer up - at least you tried!
CHEAT DEATH
Cigarette packs have health warnings
that tell you what smoking will do
None of them sound very charming
and many, it seems, will kill you
but ways to survive prescribed fate
and give yourself more of a chance, are
to pick up packs of ‘low birth weight’
and never buy ones that say ‘cancer’
Apologies to Bill Hicks, who ripped this thought off me, but he was clever about it: he did it first and put in punchlines.
SOME DAY MY PRINCE WILL GO
Every time they argue
he has to be:
the one who reaches out;
to build the bridge;
to kill the monster of bad blood;
to chop down the thorns;
and climb the tower
of her icy indifference.
But what happens when
his arms get tired;
his sword becomes blunt;
his feet ache too much;
and he feels he has
completed this same quest
once too often?
UNDER MY SKIN
I don’t need
a tattoo
I’ve got you
always with me
fading slowly
with the years
what was once
so sharp and
beautiful
turning dull
and indistinct
I don’t need
a tattoo
I’ve got you
When you were new
I was proud to
show you off
but now
you’ve been
with me
so long
I no longer
notice you
but others do
they see you
on my arm
so deep into me
turning blue
I don’t need
a tattoo
I’ve got you
under my skin
always there…
I could get
rid of you
but it would
cost too much
and cause such
pain that
the simplest
thing to do
is to keep you
but hidden
covered up
almost forgotten
a good idea
at the time
a previous time
so I keep you
my tattoo
THAT ONE GUY
Inspired by something Mike Frawley said:
He’s the bad influence in your life
who gets in the way of you doing right
You constantly ask ‘man, what was he thinking?’
when you see the state that he gets in from drinking
When he throws up, you know it’s you who cleans it
He’ll give you his word, but you know it means shit
That dude will screw you over in the end
His actions are not those of a true friend
He’s the one guy you can never rely on
When his lips are moving you know that he’s lyin’
He says ‘I’ve got your back’ but, in truth, you know
when he gives you his yes, it will change to no
He does dumb shit and you can’t stop him
You’re sick of it but you can’t drop him
He’s got you by the balls - it’s true
because that stupid asshole is you
MAKE HAYFEVER WHILE THE SUN SHINES
The sun is shining
The birds are singing
The flowers are blooming
So my eyes are stinging
My nose is running
I look like I’ve cried
I think that next year
I’ll spend summer inside
Dementia
The disease is affecting his br in
Mem ries disap ear, dropping like w ter thr ugh a sieve
nev r to r turn
The names associ ted wi h faces
Fac s ass ci ted wit family
And wi hout fam ly
he s alone
lock d in his m nd
a dis ntegra ing m d
u t l n th ng ak s
s se ny re
Learn to relax
walk on the cracks
don’t fear the axe
don’t watch your backs
don’t bitch on tax
as life impacts
accept the whacks
when pain attacks
don’t binge on snacks
if talent lacks
ignore the facts
dry tear-stained tracks
put hate in sacks
no whites v. blacks
and love friends to the max
THEY TUCK YOU UP, YOUR MUM AND DAD
oi mum, if you loved me
you’d buy me more sweeties, I’m the one kid in class
who ain’t got diabetes
how much do you care, mum?
the answer’s not very, I’m the sole kid in class
without a Blackberry
you hate me and make me
a social pariah, the last kid who’s not seen
the box set of The Wire
you embarrass me so
put yourself in my place, look how people giggle
because I’m not on facebook
you say: I’ll thank you later!
that’s a mighty long wait, can’t you see I’m a grown-up?
Christ, I’m nearly eight!
SADMIRER
I wish
I had a photograph of you
naked
will you send me one?
or must I again
climb that tree
outside your room
and wait
with flash off.
LACKLIST
Of all the things I hate
the top thing on my list
is chocolate-scented orgasms
because they don’t exist
And in a similar vein
there’s no place in my heart
for cakes that make you thin
and beer that makes you smart
Earth Angel
With your face free from make-up I can see your youth
It gives me a sense of pride to see others stare at you.
Your smile isn’t cynical me, it’s like an honest fire
warming my cold personality, eating my guilt.
Your presence is infectious and your sex a summer day,
light and breezy, sweet-smelling and drowsy,
ripened and care-free, making me lusty.
Your body’s soft as pillows and as lithe as a kite.
Your skin is milky-golden and clean of my ugly freckles.
With your hair in bunches you resemble a small girl
and I want to cook your meals and tuck you in,
read you stories and pick out your clothes.
You are something I could never be and can’t remember ever being:
You are God’s love - if God actually existed;
You are a child’s innocence from a bygone age;
Even your imperfections are perfect and I smile
for I know this will end one day, because the best things always do.
But for once I worry not and bathe instead in your mothering arms
listening to the gentle two-beat of your generous heart.
