Thomas McColl
Pervert
I’ve only been living here for five weeks
and already I’ve got a pervert climbing into my garden at night
and hanging women’s underwear on my washing line.
I’ve no idea who’s doing this,
but all the villagers think the underwear is mine,
and seem to see it as some kind of sign,
a convenient excuse
to make me
the subject of intimidation and abuse.
Once again,
the postman has delivered his phlegm
through the letter box.
I’ve been left a black body bag
by the waste disposal men.
The council has granted my neighbours
the exceptional right
to play their music loud at night.
In the street, as they pass.
men make threats underneath their breath,
and children flee,
while women look at me with contempt and disgust.
Kids shout “Pervert! Pervert!”
as they push used condoms through my letter box.
The word “PERVERT”, in red paint,
has been daubed across my front door.
At night, I can see the silhouette of the hooded pervert,
accompanied now by a large gang,
all of them helping to place women’s underwear on my washing line,
and now it’s me
who’s beginning to see
it as some kind of sign …
Page(s) 36
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