ILL TREATMENT BY HUSBAND

The first bowl of porridge was too hot.

The second bowl of porridge was too cold.

The third bowl of porridge was never right.

He sat in a chair that was too hard.

He sat in a chair that was too soft.

He smashed a chair over her head.

In the bedroom he treated her roughly.

In the bedroom he kissed her neck tenderly.

In the bedroom he near-half strangled her.

One night three bears broke into the kitchen

and disturbed the contents of cupboards and bins

and nobody has seen him since.

MY GRANDFATHER DIED

My grandfather died on Monday?

My grandfather died this morning?

I just got news that my grandpa died?

Death of grandfather.

For my grandpa.

Grandfather death poem.

He died in the early hours of this morning.

It was expected.

He's been ill for decades.

He hasn't been able to speak.

My stupid dying grandpa.

My grandfather is dead.

I live in a different country.

I couldn't even cry.

I knew the peas would have an answer.

How do you feel about Tony dying?

How do you feel about Tony dying?

FAMILY PROCEDURE

1. THE JUDGE OPENS PROCEEDINGS


The purpose of the judiciary is not
to rule on moral matters, only legal
issues may be heard. We care for facts,
things we can touch or hear, sense,
no conjecture from the opposition.


2. THE FACTS


Mr. Harris was married to Mrs. Harris.
Mr. Harris had three children.
Mr. Harris had three boys; Michael, John, Luke.
Mr. Harris struck his wife in malice.
Mrs. Harris was covered in bruises.


3. CONJECTURE


Mrs. Harris was struck by Mr. Harris in malice.
Mrs. Harris bore sadly three boys; Michael, John, Luke.
Mrs. Harris kept an untidy house.
Mrs. Harris knew everyone in her street.
Mrs. Harris was covered in bruises.


4. SUMMING UP


The judge had heard enough and told the jury
to listen hard to calls for acquittal.
In particular, could evidence of bruises
be considered alongside speculation
of violence from three boys; Michael, John, Luke?


5. VERDICT


Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty.
Not guilty. Guilty. Not guilty.
Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty.
Not guilty. Guilty. Not guilty.
Mrs. Harris kept an untidy house.  

THE CHEMICAL FORMULA FOR SHADOWS

Take one physical light source — the sun
or a hundred-watt screwcap bulb —
and obstruct with carbon forms.


Remember one side must be all oxygen,
the other a vacuum. Nothing escapes
the force of the shadow. It draws in


organic matter and kitchen utensils the same.
Keep away from naked flame
and metals prone to oxidation.


Shadows are volatile substances
and fusion occurs where they cross —
the shadows grow heavy where they explode;


so heavy they stain where they fall.
It seems impossible to lift their shapes.
Remember one side must be all oxygen

MOON RIVER

Moon River, wider than a mile,
That bastard is upstairs bathing again,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
while downstairs his children imagine his death.
Oh dream maker, you heartbreaker,
The soap and the lather bury his neck.
wherever you're going, I'm going your way.
If only the bastard would cut his throat.


Two drifters, off to see the world.
He slaps himself with vinegary cologne.
There's such a lot of world to see.


My mother remember's the way he dressed to meet her.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
And, after he'd cheat on her, he'd beat her
waiting round the bend,
and stumble into bed beside her
my Huckleberry friend,
and promise her


Moon River and me.

CANCER TRIPTYCH

These three poems are designed to appear landscape on one piece of paper, with the first poem on the left, the third on the right and the second poem nestled in the middle.

Cancer (1)

for AS

We wished the cancer on him.

Prayed the carcinoma

would enlarge and spread

like fungus

through his lungs and heart,

swell his bowel with tumours.

We hoped he would not die

but live instead

in clawing spasm,

jaw contorted to a groan

that could not ease the agony.

Sadly, anger could not trigger

a metastasis

and the NHS tend bruises

of beaten women

as they treat cancers in men

the size of fists.

Despite everything, he lived.

Cancer (2)

for LS

The cancer was sudden

and thumped her with pain.

Under the pummelling

the tumours blossomed

like chrysanthemums. She died.

Cancer (3)

for JH

Some things had gone wrong.

A depression into which

she disappeared for a year

was like a domino

knocking into another

from the suicide of her brother.

When she got better, her mother

got cancer and died

and the father who abused her

got cancer and lived.

And then she got cancer.

It was as if the anger

had concentrated to a knot

in her breast

When the doctors removed it,

everything was undid.

Despite everything, she lived.