Clive Eastwood
Tabanid
The memory of a horse-fly bite,
that dingy bar in Chatonrupt,
I felt it sting.
The building across the narrow road,
a cricket on every blade of grass,
the window with the abrupt sign: BAR.
I watched its mouth-parts,
teasing under the skin, I watched
a dim light glowing through the glass,
the field between the road and river,
it eased the mouth-parts in and out,
you asked for beer.
A stranger came over
and shook my hand
its sides pumped quietly
someone walked over
changing colour
and took my hand
from grey to crimson
and said hello
a stranger stood near to me
grey to red
then walked away
its flanks distended.
He whispered to you before he left,
the spot of blood on my arm,
it wiped its mouth-parts against its legs
and the itching started.
Page(s) 54
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