A LETTER FROM THE BBC

I got a letter from the BBC
to vanish a million pounds
in an unmarked manila envelope
that smelled of tobacco.

To vanish a million pounds
you need the Piff Paff Puff
that smelled of tobacco
blown in a cloud of Phoenix dust.

You need the Piff Paff Puff
and the breath of dragons
blown in a cloud of Phoenix dust
to distract the public gaze.

And the breath of dragons
engulfed Wood Lane in fire
to distract the public gaze
from the horse drawn hearse.

Engulfed Wood Lane in fire,
splinters of ash kicked off hooves
from the horse drawn hearse
that crackled into the night.

Splinters of ash kicked off hooves
fly and fade like burnt memos
that crackled into the night
becoming darkness and silence.

Fly and fade like burnt memos
in an umarked manilla envelope
becoming darkness and silence,
I got a letter from the BBC.

THE MAGICIAN PERFORMS AN ESCAPE ROUTINE IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE

Pilate did it
as though he'd pissed
at the urinal
and, catching his thumb
in the spray,
had rinsed his hands
in the white
reflective bowl
then shrugged.


See his flicked wrists
scatter flecks
of glittered water
crowdwards
from his fingertips
in dizzying spirals
of sunlight
falling at their feet


Of course he was right!
Twice the crowd cried
Barrabas
though he'd compelled
them otherwise —
It was only in his power
to do their wish,
gift them his body,
arms outstretched, crucified.


His hand washing theatrics aside,
he stands tallest among them,
his white robe gleaming
clean against the brown earth
turning red in the encroaching shade.