A sheltered microcosm saved in greys Abandoned tennis courts behind the shed Discarded sports cap melty-crinkle sighs Dark bitumen to amplify the heat And any sorry hurt that worry-bled
A stomachful of fluffy food forgot Lone lunchbox waiting courtside for its turn Now wasting as the cracking plastic tells Of ground more breakfast than of tennis fit To fry the egg, then desiccate and burn
Sardonic jesters loudly quiet call How far away is cool, and further still Acerbic head on mordant shoulders rests As pair of caustic, bitter lips impart The ugliest corrosive acid swill
Sark-wolves emboldened shrinking of their prey How close is sheepish shame, and closer yet Apologetic hair, repentant shoes New fascinating laces, aglets lost Shy socks serve not to aid, but to abet
Dear deprecants, embrace your rueful flush Let bashful gloves be padded by this truth The catch-calls curse less caustic on your soles Electron-pairs now balanced in their roles Basic strong since graduating youth