Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

from Everyman

Hey man. Always good. Good to be here.
What’s wrong, you look as if, I mean just say.
It’s me, it’s us, right here, you can whisper,
say the word. It’s me, man.

Something’s up, what’s up, what’s on your mind.
Me I’m not going anywhere, I swear.
Just you and me, mein Freund.

Come on, there’s something, isn’t there. You know
it pains me seeing you this something’s happened
am I right? Some chap’s gone after you
hasn’t he, just say, I’ll be your second,
try me man just tell me the fuck who.

Don’t thank me, man, that’s not what this is for!
It pains me that you’d, well, please, no more.

Too right. There’s really nothing I’m not up for!

Yes and you always will. Whatever it is.
Let’s have another of these. No I insist.
You do! I do! Toss for it. Sancerre then.

Don’t say a word.
It’s not about what we deserve or don’t deserve.
Chap says you’re the man but when the time comes
see him for dust, and that’s the world we live in,
that’s about the size of it. What times.

Wow. Little sipette. That’s some journey.
Interesting. So they’ve asked you, have they.
Didn’t ask me. Glad they didn’t ask me,
I’d suck at that, I’m not the least bit sorry
I missed that one! I’m sorry?
There’s a spot for me. They said that. Did they...

Yes I did say that,
I did, kind of, figure of speech but yes, well,
I did say that, I suppose you don’t oh you do have,
the lowdown, the schedule...

Just reading this it’s. Jesus. Page nineteen?
Does it give a name, is it not, you know...official?

Right. Well hold the press. Quelle surprise.
Might have known from the off it was one of his.
I tell you man I swore like never again
on one of his deals and yes in jest I suppose
but I actually weirdly, well I, well I like meant it.

Man, I know I said that, takes a gulp,
checks his funds, we’re good to go, but you know
it’s you and me, this is the stuff we do,
this is the life, our life, these pubs you know
we met in here, man.

Look. Ask me to, remember the abuse
you took? ask me to waste the bitch I’m yours
but don’t ask me to, come on man, fair do’s.

I know. I know you do. I’ve known you ages.
But look at all these, look, pages and pages.

It’s just so brilliant seeing you I mean
it always is, and that you’d, I don’t know
choose me to ask this to, ask this of, man
it moves me and it sucks I have to go
but a glance at the old iTouch oh I really do.

Good luck with the old, you know, and this is for you.

Please. Thank you. We sat just there! Hey man.
Put it there. Old times. As in here’s to ‘em.