HOW THEY MADE THE BETTER WORLD

for AH, RB, CF, JW, NF, TH

Anna plucked the sunshine from the dusk
Rachel raised the catflap to let the mice out
Cheryl fashioned time from the silvered workings of a watch
Jenny printed money on torn copies of The Advertiser
Nuala distilled love from a column of lonely-hearts
Tracy drew speech from stones

Tracy drew speech from stones
Anna plucked the sunshine from the dusk
Nuala distilled love from a column of lonely-hearts
Rachel raised the catflap to let the mice out
Cheryl fashioned time from the silvered workings of a watch
Jenny printed money on torn copies of The Advertiser

JAUNDICED OUTLOOK

"His books often has spaceships in them. And those spaceships have extremely odd, poetic names. Like:"

i.m. IMB

I wonder if I will turn yellow
in space. I worry I will turn
yellow in space. I turn yellow
in space. The earth will turn
yellow in space. Turn yellow
in space. The kidney will turn
yellow in space. Gall bladder turn yellow
in space. My sadness will turn
yellow in space. A mouth turn yellow
in space. No-one can hear if you will turn
yellow in space. My bruise turn yellow
in space. My pancreas will turn
yellow in space. They say I'll turn yellow
in space. They say I will turn.

ANDREW JACKSON'S CHICKEN GLASSES

for AG

Eye glasses for chickens: intended to prevent fowls
from picking out each other's eyes – Andrew Jackson's
chicken glasses. It might be supposed from glances
that chickens, like human beings, suffer eye diseases.

These eye glasses were first patented in 1903:
intended to prevent fowls from pecking out eyes.
A flock so equipped would appear very intellectual.
Go forth and multiply, young fellow me lad.