tha wanna get some TN’s
in, man. It’ll not be well for him
if he’s not got none in colour
I like. Silver and blue.

Won £160 quid, man,
on the spin. Could see
the numbers dropping.
I knew what numbers
were coming up next, yeh.

Lost £200 on horses.
I’ll try to get another grant.
Might get those TN’s.

Three probation officers
drilling me, man. I broke
the tag. It were dragging.
I was going to be had up
for criminal damage, yeh.
But when I were convicted
of armed robbery,
first conviction was quashed.

These trainers, man, just
turn your foot and its
like all these colours,
ultraviolet, and all those
blues. Trainers, man, yeh.

these days
beneath
thumb nail you pick at
roll, with middle finger
till it snaps
roll between ring and index
flick it
on gritted concrete.

Play ragged edged braille
left under nail
and can’t read it.

down the Dearne on a digestive,
up the Thames on a Bourbon,
down the Sheaf on a Garibaldi,
up the Don on a Flapjack.

down the Tyne on a Brandy Snap,
up the Wear on a Hobnob,
down the Severn on a Ginger Nut,
up the Lune on a Custard Creme.

Forget. Make the need
to return disappear.

Distance yourself.
Hold it beyond arm’s length.

It’s harder to leave, again
if you return. Pull away.

There is no reason
to return. Forget.

sight for sore,
sky blue eyes

shiny shoes,
ear buds glisten,

toned and buffed
limbs on show,

suddenly slapped
and rebuffed by winter

snows on spring’s parade,
buds scorched by gales,

blossom lashed, fruit bruised,
bleeds a wounded shock.

Blackbird volume stronger
under grey mass
before a prayer of rain
every spit a palm
spat hope of brought together
with another.

Grey blots brightnesses
yellow and blue

Cold seeps into fingers
that flick light switches,
or poke cold coals
back into splutter
and spit back warmth.

shaved rib eye cirrus
four bean catacombs,
kidney caves,
borlotti niches,
sweet potato mash vista

cinnamon cloud,
black salt gust,
white pepper rain,
gravy train tipped
runs over porcelain lip
into Yorkshire pudding crater
crackling in the heat.