and through veinstreets of leaves,
that will fall in burnt umber flood,

while roots entwine below as a labyrinth.

Miners in the green canopy.

Miners in the black below.

Pits and tunnels
mined by pitmen
underneath villages.

Each on a hillside,
one overlooks death
one overlooks life.

Each barkskin warmed
by the same sun,
frozen by the same gust.

I’ll keep it short.
Folk don’t reckon.
Soft in the head.

To share’s forbidden.
Grip my hand, lad
for sores
and livelong pain.

Smell this breath,
for rotten air 
that’ll make you gip.

Others are stench.
Others touch, poison.

Use ’em.
Abuse ’em.

In face swearers 
do my head. Spoutin’

“I’m your mate.”
“You’re me dad.”
“I love you.”
“You’re family.”

Abusers. Shop ’em.

Don’t come close again, lad.
These boots are fed
on others blood.

Have her
and she’ll have thee.

Drop a sprog.
Dump it outside.
If sharp tooth cold
don’t have it, 
it’ll get on. You.
Bring yourself up.

You soon learn.
Do nothing for nubdy.
All for yourself.

Nubdy trusts no one.
Way it is. Keep
yourself to yourself.

Selfish is good.
Now, bugger off.
Else you’ll lick
end of me
steel toecap.

bigger than a domestic cat,
smaller than a wild bear,
clawless, forms in brown sink
at each tiny drop of sweet toothpaste
drip from my mouth as I brush.

Spirit animal leaves spoor
to scent across bare, icy night earth,
down into dug den of my thoughts,
warm, cosy, fertile stink of dark

breasts withered sacs,
pluck light from eyes,

wrinkle skin into crows feet,
tenderise worn muscles,

with your needful looks,
demands of your palms

tug apron string nerves,
drain blood and bone.

I will not leave you.