monster

I've replaced the voices now.

It used to be I'd speak to them

At every opportunity,

About what I did and what I said and

How to improve my character.

Ha.

I've replaced the voices now.

I've got a monster here instead.

He stands, big and tall and

Bright cobalt blue.

On a cliff top

Just like the good Lord's eagle.

But instead of having wings,

He only has a rope

To climb across the ocean.

I watch him as he stamps his feet,

I watch him as he calls me names,

I watch him plead with me and plead,

To grab that rope and pull,

Pull him across to my world

To make him blue reality.

I'm almost fond of that monster now,

Out on the cliff top all alone,

He'll pine away and die.

Thinner and thinner,

His voice soft and weak,

Until one day, I'll look over,

And my blue monster will be gone.

argos catalogue game 2

The Power Toothbrush, Vitality Dual Clean

Larger head

with

Oscillating

Rotating

Titillating

Technology

and side to side

Bristle pad

for a

Fresh

Clean

Fun

Afternoon,

When everyone

is out

and exams are

Coming,

And stress

Needs relieving.

Ah, Oh,

That's better.

Legs open,

Toothbrush

Held

Triumphant

In the hand.

argos catalogue game 1

Silver combination microwave oven and grill

Like a fortress,

This microwave

Has no window.

The only way to tell

If your beans have

Blown

Through and

Shot

Across the ceiling

Is to open the

Door

Making sure the

Child safety lock

Has not clicked on

And look,

To see your plastic

grill rack

Baking plate

Drip tray,

Covered in

Blood

Red

Beans.

stars

So far away

that I can only see you

from the countryside.

In the city I long for

The Plough.

In the city I long for

lying on damp grass

palms upward

looking at the stars.

Have your palms been read?

They should be.

Their calloused tips would aid

the most amateur fortune teller.

And the good ones would wonder

Why on earth you bite them till they bleed.

My hands have never been bitten.

The nails grow long and I pick out

the dirt and eat it.

Tube dust and salt from old peanuts.

I munch until my nails are clean enough

to advertise fairy liquid.

stormy day away

Standing tall and feeling small

Beside the graceful building,

Can't see the top

She's just too near

To the grand firm bricks.

But the ice cream van is here.

Tight and nervous in the queue.

The brass band background,

The dancers in black suits.

The waiting.

Her legs ask her to run

Families ask for ice cream and ice cream

For kiddies and grannies.

The tourism tires her

With a visit herself.

It starts to spit.

At the front of the line,

She asks for a 99.

Syrup drips,

Thunder rumbles,

Shivers as she licks.

The shelter of the looming building.

The peace of a stormy day away.

Disappointed dead roses, yellow and pink.

The big fat flower plastered on the summer hat,

Goading with its orchid shape.

Upside down feet wait for their velcro home,

Well-balanced woman faces outside world.

Spider plants sharp and regimented wait for light of morning,

And green angel is not helping at all.

I put up pictures,

I'll cover and cover till the cupboard door

Holds no trace of magnolia paint.

Just colours and colours of passionate postcards,

Sad woman looms.

haircut

I'm going to be late.

I'll miss my appointment.

A haircut not to be.

But if I leave now,

I'll be hopelessly early, and,

I'll have to shelter in an expensive coffee shop.

Oh God, I need to pay.

That means going to the cashpoint.

Add 10 minutes onto journey.

I hope I'm not late.

I'd be so ashamed to arrive and

Claudio is serving someone else,

Cutting beautiful stylish hair,

And I arrive sweaty and bedraggled.

Too late, they say, too late.

I stand in the salon, no free coffee,

No smiles at reception now.

And I'll travel back to Peckham

With my frightful hair sitting on

Unplucked eyebrows

Wishing Claudio had waited.

Or maybe Claudio will wait.

Maybe he'll gruffly shake his oily curls

And I'll sit in the chair, terrified,

That he'll cut my hair horrible

On purpose.

And I'll sip my free coffee and worry,

And when I get back to Peckham,

No amount of Looks Lovely will persuade me

That he didn't cut it wrong.

So now I'd better go

I'd better go.

But then, what if I arrive on time,

And he sees the state of me,

If only I knew what to wear,

If only I knew what Claudio wants,

Then I could have the most marvellous hair.