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Tony Dash

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Moussorgsky’s ‘Pictures At An Exhibition’
(In my rented bungalow)

Promenade/Old Castle

I’m damaging the wails trying to hang these.
Unlike a castle the bungalow reverberates
to the repetitive phrases of the brass band
practising in the hall across the road.
Nails go straight through and wobble.

That hole is nearly big enough to hide in.
Unlike a castle the living room is crowded
when two or more gather to sing or think
amidst the monotonous tuning up.
That solitary confinement’s not right.

I am gathered here singing your praises
and considering how, for the most part,
my singing has become so joyless.
We can’t blame the bungalow for everything;
for that picture of a gnome not being right,

or the self portrait being oblique
and as you would have it, your years of distress.
The armour’s gone rusty old damsel.
So whatever it is the brass band’s playing tonight
it’s not a fanfare for opening a castle gate.

 

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