D. A. Prince
Next Door
Thin walls translate the daily soundscape:
that rapid chatter meaning embers stirred to life
after an early shift, then the babble of coals
tipped in the grate; perhaps the poker's
squeaked exclamation chipping the tiles.
A door grunts before the gargle
from the kitchen tap starts spilling everything
into the kettle, gossiping. Sometimes,
when it's cold, the fridge purrs a vague welcome
then coughs itself asleep. For hours
the cupboards slam into an argument, as though
crying to find the road back home.
The fuzz of conversation, like black mould
along a winter window, moans in the chimney.
There have been howls, but when they turn the TV on
the mortar knows a common language -
Eastenders, laughter, the familiar chords.
that rapid chatter meaning embers stirred to life
after an early shift, then the babble of coals
tipped in the grate; perhaps the poker's
squeaked exclamation chipping the tiles.
A door grunts before the gargle
from the kitchen tap starts spilling everything
into the kettle, gossiping. Sometimes,
when it's cold, the fridge purrs a vague welcome
then coughs itself asleep. For hours
the cupboards slam into an argument, as though
crying to find the road back home.
The fuzz of conversation, like black mould
along a winter window, moans in the chimney.
There have been howls, but when they turn the TV on
the mortar knows a common language -
Eastenders, laughter, the familiar chords.
Page(s) 51
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