Jigsaw?

I didn’t even know

I was a jigsaw

What about Beethoven’s Fifth

without the first eight chords

She Loves You

without the Yeahs

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

painted in black and white

Satisfaction without

the word satisfaction

Hamlet without Hamlet

Mona Lisa facing

the other way

or, better still:

just the scenery

(c. summer 1990)

you know that feeling you get part three

you know that feeling you get on day two of boarding school them was days when the so far avuncular deputy head lines up your year single file on the stone cold stone Victorian staircase love a bit of gothic and holds open the door to the corridor for each boy to walk through one by one by one having first asked each boy to introduce himself by way of saying his name out loud the sure fire way of learning thirty five names creating an eager procession of boy door name usher though with wave of hand boy door name usher though with wave of hand boy door name usher though with wave of hand as if he’s a black robed st peter cheerfully welcoming chosen souls into the kingdom of heaven or perhaps a demon at one of hell’s portals to a backdrop of nervous laughter forward slash general air of boyish bonhomie boy door name usher though with wave of hand boy door name usher though with wave of hand until it’s your turn boy door name but instead of ushering you through with the hand wave thing to join the other chosen or is it lost souls he pauses you with a hand just long enough to say oh you’re the adopted one been there done that got the red face before ushering you through one of hell’s portals so it transpires well there must be a word for that don’t you think

*New Collection* Everyone Is Now Unhappy

My new collection of poems, 'Everyone Is Now Unhappy', is now available to buy from Burning Eye Books.

Ironically, reading it will dispel unhappiness. Also, buying a copy will make me happy, so, if you do - thanks!