Marilyn Longstaff
Sound Bite
(10.9.99)
low level whoosh/zoom constant cars
click hit ill-fitting manhole cover
grind/clatter/clank empty truck
two birds compete chip chip chip
other giggles he he he
tock tock tock of the ice cream clock
that Frances made in DT bubble
and steam of Teasmade rattle
of door handle brings almost silent tread
of returning dawn-worker chinks
of cups as he pours the tea and hands
it over to me in bed My pen writes
no sound that I can hear tympani
and skiffle as I scratch my head NO WORD
between us as he shuts the door
that it was thirty years ago today
when first we kissed stayed up all night
deaf, dumb and blind to anything
but the passion
click hit ill-fitting manhole cover
grind/clatter/clank empty truck
two birds compete chip chip chip
other giggles he he he
tock tock tock of the ice cream clock
that Frances made in DT bubble
and steam of Teasmade rattle
of door handle brings almost silent tread
of returning dawn-worker chinks
of cups as he pours the tea and hands
it over to me in bed My pen writes
no sound that I can hear tympani
and skiffle as I scratch my head NO WORD
between us as he shuts the door
that it was thirty years ago today
when first we kissed stayed up all night
deaf, dumb and blind to anything
but the passion
Marilyn Longstaff is a member of the Darlington based collective, Vane Women. Her first full-length collection, Sitting Among The Hoppers, was published by Arrowhead Press in October 2004.
Page(s) 73
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