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Poetry Library Southbank Centre - The Poetry Library housing the Arts Council Collection at Southbank Centre

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Joshua Bodwell

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A Summer Day

They wrapped a fresh white paper towel around his forearm and fastened it there with clear medical tape. It was not tight and he could barely feel its weight. The blood began to soak through almost immediately. The blood looked more a brownish purple than red and he wondered how long it would bleed like that. He paid the man who was in charge, thanked him and walked out the door onto the sidewalk and into the afternoon sun.

It was getting to be almost five and the traffic was picking up. He made his way across the street when he saw the light further down the block go to red. On the other side of the street he enters a small store. He buys a pint of orange juice and a banana. The loss of blood and the pain have made him a bit light-headed. Back outside on the street the sun is still there and all the city noises, too. He turns right, down a side street, and walks towards his apartment. Under the paper towel his skin feels raw and swollen. He drinks the orange juice, eats the banana and the tattoo bleeds steadily.

 

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