tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27149792274204664542024-03-14T01:38:45.299-07:00Engines of Our Spaceship Short Stories and Poetry.
Dirty magic realism.Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-37549464414180928582019-09-12T10:35:00.000-07:002019-09-12T11:53:01.506-07:00September Trees<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I take a late-night walk through the park, where</div>
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Trees are hanging in a frail parliament. </div>
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<br /></div>
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They lean in for a late-night session</div>
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Their photocopied leaves are trembling </div>
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<br /></div>
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At the thought of autumn alopecia.</div>
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I try to imagine the speed of tree-thoughts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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How long do they take to penetrate?</div>
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And are they articulated only </div>
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<br /></div>
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By green or gradients of red and brown? </div>
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I can’t tell, in the amnesia of moonlight.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A shopping bag is snagged by brittle hands </div>
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And held up, beseechingly to the stars</div>
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That glaze the hardened September sky.</div>
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Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-60519254418501504042019-08-02T03:32:00.002-07:002019-08-02T03:36:34.327-07:00High Street Blues<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
My closed-circuit eyes focus on the line </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Of butterscotch clouds, melting in plum skies. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
In this new dawn, ginger tom stretches, yawns. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Indifferent to raspberry school-run horns. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Treacle traffic blocks my arterial streets. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Slap of church-bell heart attack thunders </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Through the pale snooze of the cemetery. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
A soundtrack to my Monday high-street blues. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Soft-focus on doorway shadows. Cardboard </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Bed is shed in a methylated shrug. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Alcoholic Scorpio, water sign. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Sorrows drowned in a foam of Special Brew. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Quick cut to convoy of caffeinated </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Parents, herding squabbling sisters and </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Brothers through academy doors. Floors </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Confected with litter and unicorn glitter. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Lens-flare flash on a green baby-buggy. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Pushed neatly, discreetly crossing the road. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Narrowly missing the crates of fruit and </div>
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Vegetables. Chased by coarse market curses. </div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Flash cut to wild-haired earth mother, reeking </div>
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Of essential oils. With a wide-eyed child </div>
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In hand. Running from a Co-op spillage. </div>
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Calamity Jane denies any damage. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
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Lavender dusk falls. I wear my shroud of </div>
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Sodium. My myopic yellow lights </div>
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Flicker and strobe in the wake of rush hour. </div>
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Chip-shop breeze in greasy hair of tired trees. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
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Late-night edit of leopard skins and white </div>
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Shirts, who colonise safe spaces in a </div>
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Conga-line stagger. Not like Jagger. A </div>
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Smithereen carpet for Uber hangovers. </div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Post-club fade on brazen foxes, frozen </div>
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Under broken swings. Howling lullabies. </div>
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Savouring scraps blown in ghost-town whispers </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Of my decline. Camera now off-line. </div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-39444768146404770182019-07-26T05:23:00.000-07:002019-08-02T06:40:47.185-07:00The Ring Road<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div autoid="_rp_1" style="background-color: white; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif;">
<div aria-selected="true" class="_rp_i ms-border-color-neutralLight" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); clear: both; margin: 0px 15px; min-width: 230px; right: 0px;">
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">I watch from under</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The shade of the fly-over.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The ring road squeezes the city</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Into prolapse.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The sky closes for business</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">And the clouds fold over, </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Like a restless sleeper's duvet.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">A sun-flare splits the grey fade </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Of the post-rush hour queue.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">I don’t think that the commuters </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Can see the heard approaching.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">A hot breeze whispers </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Through skeletal trees.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">I can see the horses racing</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Up the dual carriageway.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The Ikea sign is melting, and</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Flaming hooves are pounding </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Over the blackened bones </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Of roadkill and exhaust pipes.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The harras rages </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Through the heat haze shimmer. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Their manes are ablaze.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">With unstable diamond eyes </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">And the stars in their teeth,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">They unleash</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Beautiful incineration</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">On to the idle traffic.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Flashes of orange and red caress</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Idle wing mirrors.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">I see the fire-heard</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Race through the barrier and </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Leap across the fly-over.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Mirrored windows kiss </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The glare of a new </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Temporary sun.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">There will be no hard-shoulder</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">To cry on this evening.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">One day I will press my foot </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Down on the accelerator, and</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Catch up with the stampede.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Like Pegasus on fire.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The ring road will collapse</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Into the folded over sky.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-46176914153725086872019-07-15T03:40:00.002-07:002019-09-12T10:46:22.131-07:00The Sea Wall<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
I take a late-night walk
through the park, where</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
Trees are hanging in a
frail parliament. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
They lean in for a
late-night session</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
Their photocopied
leaves are trembling </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
At the thought of
autumn alopecia.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
I try to imagine the
speed of tree-thoughts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
How long do they take
to penetrate?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
And are they articulated
only </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
By green or gradients
of red and brown? </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
I can’t tell, in the amnesia
of moonlight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
A shopping bag is
snagged by brittle hands </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
And held up,
beseechingly to the stars</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
That glaze the hardened
September sky.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
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<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-29093367357992292832019-07-12T05:23:00.000-07:002019-07-12T05:23:10.542-07:00The Last Valve
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Can we pretend we’re in Blake’s Seven
again?’ I ask Mark. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">We are wasting another afternoon, sitting
in the spare bedroom of Uncle Billy’s house. The sun is beaming in through the
net curtains, warm on our arms. Tiny specks of dust float lazily in the air.
There’s a funny smell in the room. Mark says it’s from the mothballs in the
wardrobe. They smell bad.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are
surrounded by flowery wallpaper, yellow and pink. A cartoon jungle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A large double bed lies opposite the windows.
We’ve been using the grey, itchy blanket as a battleground for our space games.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I peep out through the net curtains and
see the kids playing football in the street. They are screaming and laughing.
They call us the Britser Boys. They laugh at the way we talk, but they let us
play with them anyway. We are on holiday. The street isn’t too different to our
own in Birmingham, expect they have little parks everywhere here in Dublin,
with big statues of ‘Our Lady’ in them. And sometimes you see lines of cows
being herded up the road at night. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
want us to join the kids outside, but Mark hates football. He puts down his Han
Solo action figure and looks at me with his green-brown eyes. The same colour
as mine. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘Okay, he says. ‘We can play Blake’s
Seven. But only if you play the baddie.’ Mark has his Star Wars t-shirt on. I
am wearing my Muppets t-shit. I like our Moscow Olympic t -shirts better. But
Mom won’t let us wear them here in Ireland, because they have little Union
Jacks on them. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Not again,’ I answer. ‘But the baddie is
a woman.’ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Don’t be sexist.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘What’s a sexist?’ I ask.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘It’s a swear word.’ Mark folds the
blanket back, covering my toys. ‘Like shit. Or bogies.’ Mark is ten. He’s three
years older than me. He knows a lot of swear words. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘I’m telling Uncle Billy!’ I reply.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Uncle Billy is the eldest of our mother’s
brothers. He looks a bit like Superman, but not as big. His dark hair is always
slicked back with cream. He likes Mark and me, but he has a temper on him. He
works as a glass blower, and some of the stuff he makes lies around his house,
like the oval paperweight in the hallway and the large orange ashtray the
living-room.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A surprised looking fish
stands on the dressing table, staring at us with bulging eyes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Someone has stuffed some keys in its mouth. We
know better than to mess about with it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark has moved over behind the bedroom door.
‘Look over here.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I crouch down and stare at the huge
television set tucked into the corner. The plug is missing. It’s an old-fashioned
telly. Unused. Mark pulls it out slowly across the rough carpet, which makes a purring
sound. He removes the back. Inside, six large glass tubes are lined up neatly
on a green board with wires running everywhere. A fuzzy layer of dust coats
everything.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘What are they?’ I ask.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark removes one of the tubes slowly, as
not to let it fall, and holds it up to the sunlight. We see the tiny copper
wires coiled up in weird patterns. Six small metal prongs stick out at the
bottom of the glass. I press on one. It’s sharp.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Mark turns the tube around, throwing a
swimming rainbow onto the wall behind us. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘These are part of the engine.’ Mark
murmurs as he shakes the tube slowly. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘What engine?’ I ask.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The tube makes a faint tinkling noise. ‘Of
our spaceship,’ Mark hands it to me. ‘You can be the engineer.’ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Smart!’ I take the tube in my hands, my
heart beating with excitement. ‘What’s an engineer?’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Don’t be a wally, for Christ’s sake.’ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I notice the large picture of Jesus on the
wall behind Mark. Christ is staring at me. He is sitting on a rock and has a fluffy
lamb in his lap. Behind him are the lights of a small town.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Mark turns around and sees the picture too. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘His eyes never stop looking at you,’ Mark
says. ‘It doesn’t matter where you go.’ To prove his point, Mark moves slowly
around the room, eyes fixed on the picture. ‘He’s always watching you.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Stop it,’ I cry. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Look at his eyes,’ Mark replies. ‘He will
protect you.’ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘No!’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Do you want the vampires to come tonight?' Mark asks. ‘Like Salem’s Lot?’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I stare at the blue-eyed Jesus. Without
the beard, he almost looks like that blond lady from Abba, but not as happy.
Jesus looks sad and angry. Will he protect us? I turn away and bump into Mark.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Watch out,’ he shouts and shoves me ‘you wally.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Piss off’ I reply.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark grabs my arm. ‘You nasty little wally,’
he nods towards the picture of Jesus. ‘Say “Sorry. Amen”’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘No!’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Say it!’ He squeezes my arm, harder.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Ow!’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I
shout. Sorry…Amen,’ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">A smashing noise startles us. We
look down beside the bed. The broken tube lies on the floor in a heap of gold
wires and glass power. I hear a thump from down stairs and then the creaking of
floorboards.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘What the hell is going on up there?’
calls Uncle Billy.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘That’s your fault,’ Mark points at the
mess.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The bedroom door swings open. Uncle Billy
stands there, his eyes bulging, a bit like the glass fish on the dressing table.
‘Can I not get a minute’s peace with youse two?’ he growls. ‘Which one of you
did that?’ He points to the broken glass. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I start to cry. I can’t help it. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Sorry, Uncle Billy’ Mark says. ‘It was
me.’ He grabs my hand and squeezes it. I stop crying. I’m lucky I have a
brother like him, to protect me. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I notice that my Aunt Kathleen has
followed Uncle Billy upstairs. A headscarf hides her brown-grey hair. She is
always wearing a gold cross around her neck. Mark tells me it’s to keep
vampires away. ‘Ah, Billy,’ she says with a smile. ‘Don’t be giving them too
much stick.’ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Aunt Kathleen is Uncle Billy’s girlfriend.
She’s always laughing. I like her, although I don’t think my Mum thinks too
much of her. She calls her a ‘real Holy Joe’.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Stick?’ shouts Uncle Billy. ‘By Jesus,
I’ll show them some stick. I’ll let their mother and father have it too, when
they get back.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mum and Dad have gone out for the day to
Bray, to visit my uncle Frank.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I start crying again. ‘Mark. Don’t let
them hit me with the stick,’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Aunt Kathleen leans down and hugs me,
laughing. ‘Shh. Don’t be silly love,’ she says. ‘He’s doesn’t mean it.’ Her
gold cross tickles my arm and she smells of flowers.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I look over at Mark. He rolls his eyes.
‘Wally,’ he mouths silently.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Well, you can get the dustpan and clean
that mess up,’ uncle Billy says to Mark. ‘Don’t be bothering me again.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">A few days later and the breaking of the
valve is forgotten. We are all crowded around the big television in my Uncle
Billy’s living room. Six of us kids, watching Top of the Pops. It’s early
evening and the adults have gone to the club again. I’m sitting in the lumpy
armchair, my nose pressed against the cold window. I see a ginger cat on the
fence, stretching. I sigh, turning the streetlights into little halos.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Mark is sitting on the sofa next to Bernadette,
the red-haired girl from over the road. Bernadette’s younger twin sisters are
sitting on the carpet, messing about with their dolls.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark and Bernadette are both the same age.
Mark plays with her; a lot more than he does with me lately.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are watching Kate Bush on the telly. She’s
dancing in the woods in her nightie. She’s in the top ten. Bernadette loves
her. Mark sits with both knees up to his chest. I pull my knees up and sit in
the same position. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">'Hey, Britser,' Jimmy, Bernadette’s older
brother looks over at Mark. He is smiling, but not in a happy way. 'Do you like
the Queen?'</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy is aged twelve. He’s babysitting us.
He has a big, freckly face and is a skinhead. I don’t like him. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark looks up from the telly. ‘I don’t
know,' he answers.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy snorts and nudges Bernadette. 'Do
you hear him, Snotser? He doesn't know.' He stands up in from of the telly,
arms crossed against his Thin Lizzy t-shirt.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Do you like her then?’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark shrugs. ‘She’s alright.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>'Well I bloody hate her.'<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jimmy glares down at Mark. ‘She’s a bitch.’
He spits. ‘Do you hear me, Britser?’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">'Jimmy, leave him alone,' says Bernadette.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Why?’ Jimmy turns to his sister. 'Is he
your boyfriend, Snotser? He reaches over and pulls her hair. ‘Is that it?' </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">'Ow!' Bernadette cries. 'Would you piss off.’
She pushes at Jimmy's arm. ‘You eejit.'</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy slaps her face. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Bernadette looks shocked for a second,
then laughs. ‘What are you, a girl?’ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy punches her. Straight in the face. A
horrible thump that makes me feel sick.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Bernadette stands still, tears streaming
down her face. She closes her eyes for a second and takes a deep breath. ‘You
bastard, ya.’ Bernadette opens her eyes. Blood is running from her nose.
‘You’re just after breaking my nose!’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy keeps punching her. ‘Come on then,’
he keeps saying. He hits her in the back, in the chest, on her arms. ‘Come on!’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Stop it, Jimmy.’ Bernadette starts
crying. She kneels to the floor.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Who’d you think you are?’ He leans over
her. ‘The fucking queen?’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The twins start crying too.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark suddenly stands up. Eyes wide,
breathing fast. 'Stop,' he shouts. 'Stop hitting her.' His fists are clenched.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Everyone goes quiet.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Everyone in the room is looking at Mark.
The end music to Top of the Pops finishes. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy turns away from Bernadette and faces
my brother. He is about a head taller than Mark. His freckled face is even
redder than before. 'You want some too, Britser?' he screams, spit flying onto Mark’s
t-shirt. ‘Because I’ll give you some, too.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I sit up slowly from my seat and clench my
fists too. ‘Say “sorry amen,” bastard,’ I whisper. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy looks at me with his blue eyes. He
smiles and winks at me. He suddenly raises a fist at Mark’s face. Mark flinches
back and falls back onto the sofa, his face is red and teary. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Bernadette gets up off the floor and wipes
her face with her sleeve. ‘I hope you die roaring, you bastard,’ she shouts at Jimmy
and runs out of the room.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy picks up the large orange ashtray
and throws it after Bernadette. It hits the door and falls to the floor, still
intact. 'Don’t be thinking of telling on me this time, Snotster.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Bernadette’s two sisters grab their dolls
and run after Bernadette.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Go on, the pair of you,’ Jimmy shouts.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy looks back at Mark and me. He
laughs. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">‘Alright boys?’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Jimmy reaches over and switches channel on
the television. There’s a football match on. He sits back in his chair and
stretches his legs. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I reach into my pocket and pull out the
valve. The one I secretly kept. I run my finger across the six small metal
prongs sticking out at the bottom. I get up and sit next to Mark. I grab his
hand and press the valve into it. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">He flinches and looks down. The prongs
have pieced his skin, leaving little droplets of blood in his palm. Mark turns
to me, red faced. 'Don't be such a baby.' </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Mark shoves the glass tube back at me.
There’s a small, tinkling noise. I pull back and glance down. The last valve
has shattered.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A glass splinter leaves a
bleeding cut on my finger.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-28326268790892952932019-07-07T02:50:00.000-07:002019-07-07T02:50:15.780-07:00Closing Down Sale<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Let’s go Saturday shopping on the high </div>
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street, where the army of mobility </div>
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scooters roll over empty packets of </div>
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insulin, as easy jets leave viper</div>
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leave,’ </div>
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<br /></div>
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'Rule Britannia' plays over the tannoy </div>
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section. Radio talk of another </div>
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election. A final confrontation </div>
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checkout. We don't know what it’s all about.</div>
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The only thing we know for sure is this,</div>
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it's a closing-down sale.</div>
Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-3190035758571708882019-07-07T02:41:00.000-07:002019-07-07T02:41:16.421-07:00The Stick Man
‘Hold your hand
still.’ Peter held the candle out.<br />
<br />
‘I
don’t want to,’ Kevin replied. He shivered despite the summer
evening. He glanced at his watch. Seven o’clock. It was getting
late and his mum would be wondering where he was. The afternoon spent
playing in the field had slipped by. Peter had led the way through
the twisted path to the ruined church at the edge of town.<br />
<br />
‘Don’t
be a baby,’ Peter said. He placed the candle on the bench and
stared at Kevin. ‘Do you want the Stick Man to get us?’ He pulled
up the hood on his parka jacket.<br />
<br />
‘What’s
the Stick Man?’<br />
<br />
‘There
was a priest that lived here, on his own, years ago.’ Peter touched
the doll-like collection of branches that lay on the bench. ‘He
used to catch kids playing in the graveyard and lock them in here.’
Peter picked the twig-doll up and held it close to the flame. ‘He
used to punish them, by pouring hot wax onto their hands.’<br />
<br />
‘That’s
a stupid story.’<br />
<br />
Peter
put the doll back. ‘One day he caught two boys who fought back.’<br />
<br />
‘What
did they do?’ Kevin asked.<br />
<br />
‘They
pushed the priest, who fell back into the candles.’<br />
<br />
Kevin
looked at the rusted rows of metal around them and shuddered.<br />
<br />
‘The
wax from the candles fell onto his face, while he was knocked out.’
Peter tipped the candle, which dripped onto the head of the stick
doll.<br />
<br />
‘’Bloody
hell!’<br />
<br />
‘Don’t
swear in church.’<br />
<br />
‘Sorry,
amen.’<br />
<br />
‘The
priest jumped up, blind and screaming. His gown was on fire.’ Peter
kicked a piece of wood. ‘He chased the boys down to the door. The
fire spread quickly.’<br />
<br />
Kevin
noticed the blackened walls and charred pews surrounding them. The
air smelled heavy and musty. He tried to laugh, but his throat was
tight. ‘As if,’ he said.<br />
<br />
‘They
found his body under this bench, covered in wax and splinters of wood
from the rafters.’ Peter looked up at the shattered roof. The sky
was an orange glow. ‘One of the boys was never found.’<br />
‘Shut
up!’ Kevin pulled away from the bench and turned toward the door.<br />
<br />
Peter
stepped in front of him. Streaks of wax lined his sleeves. ‘Where
are you going?’ He pushed Kevin back towards the bench.<br />
<br />
‘We
need to keep the Stick Man away,’ Peter said. ‘It’s just a drop
on each hand. Look.’ He dripped a bead of wax onto his skin. The
wax hardened quickly. He rolled it into a ball and flicked it into
the dark.<br />
<br />
‘Your
turn.’ Peter grabbed Kevin’s hand. He held the candle closer.<br />
<br />
Kevin
pulled free and pushed Peter’s arm away. Wax splashed onto the
bench. The candle wavered, but stayed lit.<br />
<br />
‘What
did you do that for?’ Peter placed the candle back down. The stick
figure was completely covered in wax.<br />
<br />
‘You
bloody weirdo,’ Kevin said.<br />
<br />
Peter
pulled his hood down, ‘It was just a joke…’ he paused.<br />
<br />
They
heard the tap, tap, tap, on the door.<br />
<br />
Kevin
glanced at Peter; who stared back, eyes wide, mouth open. He heard
Peter’s ragged breathing, mingled with his own.<br />
<br />
Kevin
shivered. ‘Who’s that?’ He whispered. He heard the snapping
sound of branches from outside.<br />
‘It’s the Stick Man,’ Peter uttered.<br />
<br />
‘Shut
up,’ Kevin replied.<br />
<br />
The
snapping ceased, leaving silence outside.<br />
<br />
‘I’m
going home…’ Kevin said.<br />
<br />
‘Who
is it?’ Peter shouted, which made Kevin jump.<br />
<br />
Then,
thump, thump, thump, on the door.<br />
<br />
Kevin
stepped back and stumbled back over a piece of wood. The sickening
twist of his ankle made him yell.<br />
<br />
The
thumping stopped. Peter took a step towards the door.<br />
<br />
‘Don’t,’
Kevin rubbed his foot.<br />
<br />
Peter
ignored him. He pushed the door open. Dusky light flooded the church
interior. The long shadows of the graveyard lay before them. Peter
stepped out of the church. ‘Stay here,’ he whispered. ‘I’ll
run for help.’<br />
<br />
‘No!’
Kevin replied. ‘I’m coming with you!’<br />
<br />
‘You’ll
slow me down.’<br />
<br />
‘Peter!’
Kevin leaped up on his good foot and grabbed the back of Peter’s
jacket. Peter lurched out of his grasp. The door slammed shut.<br />
<br />
Kevin
pushed the door. It wouldn’t move. ‘Let me out,’ his ankle felt
swollen.<br />
<br />
‘You
idiot. You ripped my bloody coat!’ Peter hissed from outside.<br />
<br />
Kevin
heard the snapping of branches.<br />
<br />
He
heard a sharp intake of breath, then the thud of something hitting
the ground.<br />
<br />
Kevin
shivered. ‘Peter!’ he whispered.<br />
<br />
He
heard the snapping of branches. Then; tap, tap tap, on the door.<br />
<br />
The
door swung open.<br />
<br />
Kevin
saw the tear he had made on the back of Peter’s jacket, which
flapped open like a crooked smile. The hood was up. Kevin looked down
and saw the streaks of wax lining the sleeves of the parka.<br />
<br />
He
shuffled forward and grabbed a shoulder. ‘That was a really stupid
joke…’<br />
<br />
He
stopped. He felt the brittleness beneath the jacket. The branches
snapping.<br />
<br />
The
figure turned around.Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-37752979801258639132019-07-07T02:12:00.000-07:002019-07-07T07:24:31.701-07:00Ishtar<br>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Ishtar is on the subway. </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Her face is repeated </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Through layers of torn posters.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Her talking heads are chanting </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Sex and war through sacred boom-boxes.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
She reigns in New York City,</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
From uptown lofts, to the </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Downtown candy store.<br>
<br>
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Ishtar’s smiling faces sometimes </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Float through the turquoise </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Haze. Her teeth are chattering ticket stubs.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
They spell out a new code. </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
You see it in layers of dead flyers, </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Pez wrappers and graffiti covered trains.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
A manual from the underground</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
To slay the Philistines.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
<br>
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Ishtar gifts you the city in </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
A paintbox. You draw black lines</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
That define the barriers between </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Uptown commerce and downtown </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Creativity. And then, so effortlessly,</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
You reveal the anatomy of the city,</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
With a brush-stroke and a cloud</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Of weed smoke.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
<br>
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Ishtar shows you colours </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Through New York city rain. </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Taxis queue in yellow exodus,</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Carrying you from gallery to gallery.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
In your paint splattered Armani. </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
You shift from the downbeat of mutant </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Discos to loft apartment parties.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
On the boom for real.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
<br>
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Ishtar is on the A train.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
She reigns in New York City.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
She’s an art dealer,</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
She’s a bag lady, </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
She’s a stripper on Times Square.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Her repeating heads are</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Layered on tiled walls.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
She is chanting sex and war.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
<br>
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Ishtar is drawing you a map,</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
An escape route from the underground.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
You can see her eyes everywhere</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Through the layers of torn posters.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
She is tracing the veins of the city,</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
From uptown lofts, to the </div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
Downtown candy store.</div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">
On a mainline to your skull.</div>
Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714979227420466454.post-44774725861833103112019-03-02T12:22:00.002-08:002019-07-07T07:25:09.857-07:00
The Canal Knows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">I walked from the car. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">I was fly-tipping the </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Contents of my head </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Onto the towpath.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">And then I decided </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">To listen to the whispering </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Traffic from the flyover.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Dissonant notes and</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Drifting motes.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Fermata</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">In the heat-haze.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">I joined the dots for a while. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">As I walked beside </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The stillness, I traced </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">A liquorice line, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Trickling through the veins </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Of the city. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">A prickling cloud</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Of midges</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Trembled in the</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Tension of cracked </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Wing mirrors.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The manspread of pylons </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Played snakes and ladders </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">With the long grass,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Their power-stance loomed </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">over scrapyards. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">I followed a fading </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Hopscotch path</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">That led me through </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Stagnant pools </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">In sad factories,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The skeletons of warehouses </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">And rows of drunken locks.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">A clearing in the bushes</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Revealed an aviary </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Of cans and bottles.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">A meth nest, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Best left alone.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The owner, A bird-man </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">With laminated eyes</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Was screaming at the sky,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">‘They're frying up </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The sea life centre.’</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">I slipped away</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Through weeds yielding </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">To the mid-day breeze.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Secret machines were</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Sleeping by the disused </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Railway track,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Deluded in their dreams</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Of reactivation.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">A pair of geese eyed me</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Warily. They were guarding</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Their little pool, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Celebrating</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Their union in oil slicked</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Water. I held up my camera.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">They hissed and chased me off.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Before me stood a signal box, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Pebbledashed with pigeon shit.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">A serrated transition</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Down a twisted copper wire. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">A broadcast to the </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Corpses of </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Corroded car bodies. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">I heard the music in </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The echoes of the basin,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Caressing curving concrete</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Spaghetti intertwined.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The tunnel whispered:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br></div>
<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Have I seen you here before?</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; min-height: 14.3px; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div>
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<br>Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812838748500067356noreply@blogger.com0