where you should be
where you ought to be

sinewed spirit belongs
where your bone belongs

where your lips are home
where I expect you to be

where your heart flops
breath snuggles, bones rest

with me, not someone else
somewhere else somewhen

at this breath’s end
at end of the line.

to know what each breath brings
and what it takes away.

to guess what ground your feet
falls upon, and how safe it is.

to hear another’s hidden half
and hold it close to your own.

to taste a new fragrance, but still
have faith in your old senses.

to inhale new knowledge
and when you breathe out
accept its loss.

to have your sweat drip
and know it is not misgiven.

What so special about stars?
Attention seeking baubles
I shouldn’t wonder.

What’s so special about spring?
Gaudy flowers showing off
I shouldn’t wonder.

What’s so special about children?
Eyes hugging breath from you
I shouldn’t wonder.

What’s so special about you?
Flaunting yourself in next to nowt
I shouldn’t wonder.

What’s so special about stomach buzz?
Keyed up indigestion
I shouldn’t wonder.

What’s so special about wonder?
Makes you better off than you should be
I shouldn’t wonder.

Employers say ‘Can I have a word outside for a mo’?
Are you happy here? Sorry, but we must let you go.”

‘You are a nice person, get on well workwise, and so.
We needed work done faster, so must let you go.”

‘There is no problem with your work quality, and what you know.
You are thorough, but, sorry, you are too slow.”

Business wants workers always accurate and quick
When you work too slow,no choice, they ask you to quit.

Slow workers move from job to job always expect
the phrase ‘Are you happy here?’ and always regret.

There is no reason for business to employ
the snail, for if it did that business would fail.

the relevant part of a map.
When he gets lost, he stops,
at the entrance to the busiest junction,
sometimes, before a roundabout,
and unfolds a view of the world
to its fullest extent to find his way.

Perhaps, at work when he changes
a tiny part of the system he looks
at detailed, draughted whole diagram
of council offices,hospitals
or nuclear subs where he is to install
new heating waste management services.

And I at work or home cursed with the same
need for thorough deliberation,
find bosses, wives and workmates sigh
at my slow, detailed examination
of an issue, that had I rushed,
as when angry, only find confusion.

My dad and I bring the whole going on
to a brief stop as others
who wish to get on hoot,
whistle and toot their dismay.
We ignore them all to, quietly,
stubbornly map our way.

On the bus my wife
speaks to me loudly
and clearly so all can hear
what she wishes to say.

On meals out she reaches
into her bag for wet wipes
so I can remove foodstains
from my shirt or trousers
and tells all who are present
“I don’t carry these
for the grandchildren.

You’re worse than the grandkids.”

When I have Man Flu she says:
I think you should stay here, dear.
Don’t want you coughing
up phlegm in the restaurant.
It’ll put the other diners off.
We’ll be thrown out.

You don’t want to look common,
when you draw attention to yourself.

I hope that’s not a poem about me.
You’re not drawing attention to me.
You weren’t sordid when we married.