Learning Identity
The received mask.
All received & adopted.
The misbehaving child.
Do not fucking swear do you hear?
& the trial went on.
Pariah of patriots
All the flags are charred
As if dragged from fire.
& the pigeons are circling,
Nervous to land like they know
The home has changed.
& frame the face that fits.
The fit of the face is good.
In the picture for it.
Black DMs & pipe-cleaner leggings
Pushing a pram w. an arse following.
There’s always a cup on the lawn
For the hedgehogs.
& one just like her lay there
Like drunk, but coated
In a frost so sparkly.
All the wife’s jewellry lines a jay’s nest
& upstairs at the drinks cabinet
A cuckoo w. acne scars
Thirty years a lodger
Makes sure all the children
Go into the sewers.
& if ever there was a sign
If ever there was a wish to be avoided
Consider it granted
& if ever there was desire to keep bored
Consider that fulfilled
& it was a day since last week
Passed when the lazy came by
& somebody said the wrong thing
In the right ear
& now the doors a running engine
W. knuckles ticking over.
You come out. Blame is waiting.
Take it for a walk.
That’s a fine face.
Wear it like the Sunday best.
Somebody suburban may believe.
Not this gathering of gossips.
They’re all pointing fingers.
Saying, yeah, that’s the one, that’s him
& none of them you ever knew
Or seen before that day.
Page(s) 133
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