"yuk" poems
Now, what the hell has just happened to me?!,
I went to sleep and felt quite human,
Alarm goes off, opened my eyes to see,
Two mounds where my little chest should be.
My ****** armpits have just sprouted some fuzz,
There's some hair where my lady garden was,
My beautiful blonde hair is all goopy and limp,
And my face has a likeness to a spotty chimp.
When i went to bed last night, i loved my dear mother,
Now, the thought of a cuddle makes me run and take cover,
Ant lanky Jimmy Owens used to repulse me, no end,
But now all i want is to be his girlfriend?!,
I suppose i will need to start wearing a bra,
And i'll have to smile through the taunts from grandma,
And my father will watch every move that i make,
And i'll have to conform, for my sanity's sake.
Well, tonight, when i lay down my spotty wee head,
I'll lie here and wait for the morning, with dread,
All these transformations, all yuk and all grease,
O lord, will i make it through in one piece?!.
c eileen mcgreevy 2009
Nov 20, 2009
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:50 AM UTC
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Apr 8, 2016
Apr 8, 2016 at 4:16 PM UTC
I stand there and smile and check them in
I answer all of their stupid questions with a pleasant grin
8 hours of this then I'll be free
None of these people care how they treat me
Their snotty and rude and make a mess
I've never behaved this way while being a hotel guest
They turn up their nose's and spend money all week
Then when it comes to the bill they want to be cheap
A discount here a discount there
And when I say, "No", they grit their teeth and stare
They yell loud and scream like I will bend or cry
Thanks to the survellience camera I have an alibi
In my head I start to wonder
"Isn't this the guest that asked for a plunger?"
"He's complained about the food and our lovely staff."
"He's dissing our lamps and even our town maps."
"Then he comes to the front desk to fuss and cuss."
"He's pointing his fingers and having a fit."
"Yuk! He's talking so fast his mouth is collecting spit."
I decided that was it I had enough
Working in the service industry is tough
But all I could do was stand there and smile
And this is what played in my head all the while
When people start to scream and shout
This is what I do to tune them out...............
This is a test of the Emergency **** Off System.
This is only a test
insert sound here
Sep 16, 2012
Sep 16, 2012 at 10:45 PM UTC
Janice sat beside you
on the bombsite
off Meadow Row
looking towards
the New Kent Road
watching the people
and traffic pass
you with your catapult
and she with the doll
her gran had bought her
from the market in the Cut
Gran said those are dangerous
Janice said
pointing at the catapult
not if you’re careful
and responsible
you said
but they fire stones
she said
guns fire bullets
you said
they can **** people
David killed Goliath
with a stone
she said
I heard it in church
I only fire at tin cans
or other such targets
you said
she looked at the sky
at pigeons flying overhead
what about birds?
she asked
no I don’t shoot at birds
although I did fire
at a rat once
but missed
and it ran off
I hate rats
she said
there was one
on our balcony once
and it frightened me to death
you laughed
you remember that coalman
who stomped on that one
along the balcony by your flat?
yuk
she said
horrible blood and guts
everywhere
and on his boot
you said
she hugged her doll
close against her
don’t remind me
you studied the doll
in her arms
the way it was close
to her chest
her hands caressing
the painted china head
the yellow flowered dress
and small white socks
and black plastic shoes
you’d make a good mum
you said
watching her rock
the doll in her arms
do you think so?
she asked
yes
you said
maybe one day
I will have a real baby
she said
and rock it to sleep
and feed it with a bottle
and burp it
and change its *****
like I saw a lady do
in the toilets
of Waterloo station
and Gran said
it wasn’t hygienic
not there of all places
Gran said
I’d have to have
a peg on my nose
if I had to change
a baby’s *****
you said
I think men
have weaker stomachs
than women do
she said
I think mothers
are given stronger stomachs
when they have babies
it’s God way of helping them
deal with babies
I’d rather have a catapult
than a baby
you said
or a doll
do you want to hold my doll
and I can hold your catapult?
she asked
no thanks
you replied
if my mates saw me
I’d never live it down
she kissed the doll’s head
and said
likewise
but there was a smile
on her lips
and a sparkle
in her eyes
and a beauty
in the way she sat
in her orange coloured dress
and bright red beret hat.
Feb 23, 2013
Feb 23, 2013 at 4:27 AM UTC
As my Precious sits on my desk,
shedding and watching with interest.
I take a drink from my cup.
A hair sticks to my tongue..eew yuk.
She is pleased with herself and wags,
her tail, hair flies off like flags.
They are small, black and everywhere.
Making patterns on all of the chairs.
Little drifting smiles of hair,
residing on my clothes without care.
This much hair from a small Chihuahua,
it's not possible, no not at all.
It's not as if she's going bald.
But then, Kojack, she could be called.
Oh look! You have some hair that she's shared.
I'll take care of that, you wait right there.
I'll just run and get my trusty lint roller.
Better yet! I'll get my leaf blower.
Aug 24, 2010
Aug 24, 2010 at 7:10 AM UTC
Laughter is universal.
Extraterrestrials **** themselves with it;
Martians **** their pants;
Venutians titter til they cry;
Earthlings **** themselves with it
Splitting a side,
Rolling on the floor,
Chortling all the while.
Politicians shake hands gleefully,
Snickering, cackling,
Standing us against the wall.
A good roar, hoot or howl
May be good for the soul,
But is dangerous,
Especially if you
Have a fit
Of tee hees, ha has and yuk yuks
While orbitting.
Feb 26, 2016
Feb 26, 2016 at 8:50 AM UTC
Where is Ken?
He's such a doll!
He and Todd are dancing with Skipper
grinding to "Milkshake"
Another round
for the ladies
sitting by themselves
in the corner
Thanks for the drink, sucker!
you can go away now
We're here for the free *****
on Ladie's Night
All men want
is to get laid
another round
of Rumple Minze!
We have mates
they are on the dance floor
grinding on Skipper
She's such a *****
All men want
is to get laid
another round
of Rumple Minze!
We love our men
like they love
their *****
"straight and to the point!"
Hey Ladies
I am genuinely nice guy
highly educated
a few pounds overweight
FU** off loser!
***
How dare he talk to us
Yuk!
We have mates
they are in the parking lot
grinding on Skipper
She's such a *****
All men want
is to get laid
another round
of Rumple Minze!
Where the hell did they go?
They left the club
with Skipper
She's such a *****
Don't worry Midge
i'lll drvesed us hoooomee
b
u tttttttt
f ir
s
t
another round
of Rumple Minze!
Sep 13, 2018
Sep 13, 2018 at 2:57 PM UTC
Teatime done with
I went with Helen
across the bomb site
off Meadow Row
and crossed
the New Kent Road
to the ABC cinema
and along side
the dark alleys
dim lights
damp stink
she just behind me
clutching her doll
Battered Betty
by one arm
was that a rat?
she half said
and screamed
could be
I said
you see
them at night
down here
she clutched my arm
with her free hand
Battered Betty
swaying behind her
what we looking for?
she asked
cigarette ends
I said
why?
What do you
want them for?
she asked
make up a smoke
with Rizla *** papers
I said
you smoke
old tobacco?
she said
put it
in your mouth?
If I get
enough tobacco
sure
I said
looking around
the ground
yuk
she said
sometimes
I find dropped coins
I found a cuff link once
silver it was
but one
ain't much good
unless you're
a one armed man
I said
does your mum know
you smoke?
God no
I said
she has enough
to worry about
without me
adding to it
she frowned
clutched my arm tighter
well you shouldn't smoke
she said
you're only 9 like me
and I would never smoke
and our children
when we have them
won't smoke either
she said
she looked
at Battered Betty steely
I pushed her words
and images
out of my mind
for the moment
I saw a semi-smoked
Senior Service
on the ground
by the wall
and stooped
to pick it up
it's got lipstick on it
Helen said distastefully
it's has a woman's
spittle inside
I looked at her
disapproving gaze
and threw it away
yes you're right
I said
men's spittle's best
she frowned darkly
ok
I said
not really
I just jest
another time maybe
I thought
taking her deeper
into the dark
and rats
and damp stink
of drains
remembering it all
it sinking
into my
9 year brain.
Mar 18, 2014
Mar 18, 2014 at 6:41 AM UTC
Watchin tv
Gotta no o Reilly
Gotta be up on hate
--
Can't love nobody til I'm told
----
Gotta sell
Me soul
(Need the money)
---
---
We all
Mercenary
In the USA
---
Hey kid!
Wanna buy a razor blade!
YUK ! YUK! YUK!
--
Ya already got
Too much blood in yer vains
(Short for vanity)
And such entertaining insanity!
--
Another possibility!
--
Yes there is
There surely is
Aug 13, 2013
Aug 13, 2013 at 1:57 AM UTC
I was born in the spirited sixties,
When t.v was there but, the channels were few,
The skirts were super short, the boots rather *****
made in crinkly wrinkly patent plastic,
The music was loud,
so my mother moaned,
as usual,
The quality was better,
The stones were ******
The Beatles were trippie,
My mother so serious,
was no freakin' hippy,
She fed us malt extracted from teaspoons,
Okay, from jars really,
I remember it tasted pretty vile,
But she'd smile,
nagging inconsiderately,
that we needed to take it,
it would do us good!
Yuk, I wonder if my brother felt the same,
I will never know!
(C) Livvi
May 18, 2014
May 18, 2014 at 2:00 PM UTC
I was on the bomb site
off Arch Street
collecting pieces of wood
and newspaper
******* in a ball-
and small pieces of coal
liberated from the coal wharf
near by
plus a few Swan Vestas
borrowed from
my old man's box at home
I lit a fire
near the railway arch
and Ingrid said
are you allowed
to do that?
not that I know
I said
what if a policeman
comes?
she asked
I'll just say
it was alight
when I came
and I was
keeping warm
I replied
but that's lying
she said
stretching the truth
a little
I said
she frowned at me
her bruised eye
was on the mend
and was just a slight
memory now
-her old man's
handiwork-
what if you get burnt?
she said
risk of the game
I said
I shouldn't be here
if my dad saw me here
I'd be for it
she said
you're always for it
I said
you've only got to look
at your old man
and he whacks you
I replied
not always
she said
looking away
he slippered you
the other week
for dropping
that bottle of milk
she said nothing
but looked across
the bomb site
at the passing buses
on the New Kent Road
I got out a small tin
and opened it
want a cigarette?
she peered at me
then at the tin
where'd you get those?
she said
I made them
I said
made them?
yes out of dog-ends
I picked up
from the gutters
and borrowing
cigarette papers
from an uncle
I made them up
she pulled a face
but they must have
other people's
spit on them
she said
but the papers
are fresh
I said
and besides
the burning tobacco
gets rid of that
she looked at me
and said
yuk
I put the tin away
and we watched
the fire burning
a Rozzer stopped me
on here the other week
and said to me
did I see you smoking?
I said
no I've not been smoking
I'd flicked the **** end
onto the bomb site
behind me
and he looked
at me suspiciously
and said
better not let me
catch you sonny boy
and he walked off
I'd have wet myself
she said
if a policeman
stopped me
we watched the fire burning
for a few more minutes
then we went across
the bomb site
to the chip-shop
to buy 6d of chips
and stood outside
and shared them
watching the small bomb fire
burning across the way
on that cold
November day.
Jun 14, 2015
Jun 14, 2015 at 1:42 AM UTC
I am a wicked witch
With black hair, crooked teeth
My friends call me Myrtle
My cat Jinks, who can’t spell, calls me Keith
I can turn an ugly, fat frog into prince
When I spend my nights making spells
But it’s much funnier and more often, than not
The prince is turned into a frog, don’t tell.
I am a wicked witch
I have princesses knocking at my door
Looking for true loves first kiss. Yuk!
So, they buy apples and spinning wheels
Hoping to find their prince, tough luck!
The princes are living in my pond, eating flies.
But I tell them eat the apples, ***** their fingers
One day their prince will come. Wicked me, what lies!
I am a wicked witch
The king has arrived at my door
He isn’t looking happy. I best make ready to run.
Witch Myrtle, he says, I need your help
I don’t know what to do. You are the only one
That I can rely on, no-one else can do.
A Dragon is roaming the kingdom
He roars fire, eats sheep, I need you.
I am a wicked witch
But I say kindly, my King there is no need to worry
I have the just the thing that can help
But you must promise to do everything I say
You can have no misgivings, no doubt
I have a sword that will cut through dragon scaling
And flame-proof armour, nothing like you’ve seen
So stop your crying and no more wailing
Now listen carefully. Good, he seems keen
I am such a wicked witch
Word has come back from the town
Telling of the meeting between the king and dragon
How the king stood tall and proud, despite the titters all around
Dressed in a flame proof diaper and holding a green snake tail rattle
How the dragon looked at the king, before slowly falling to the ground
People say in all their years, they had never seen the sight
Of a dragon rolling in laughter, there is no stranger sound.
Oh dear, I am a wicked witch
The king sent solders to arrest me. But I have sent them back
As rats dressed in ballet shoes and fluffy white tatu’s.
I am sure the King will like them. But then again, maybe not.
I think it’s time I left this house and pack up all my things.
I am ready to go with Jinks on my shoulder. But this broom’s too small
So, I call in a favour from a friend, and he is happy to oblige
Because dragon, really is the best way to fly, after all.
Apr 8, 2018
Apr 8, 2018 at 6:44 AM UTC
I wrestle you out of the cupboard under the stairs
Every weekend
Scaring the ******* out of the cat
Who by now knows what is happening,
Perceived as a fight to the death
Filled with electric noise, until finally
I tame the monster and put it to bed
He elects to hide
In the kitchen, under the table.
We dance the waltz of cleanliness
Over carpet, lino, round litter trays
Up stairs and across bookcases
Just you and I, an odd couple
Locked in a battle against dirt and dust
The build up of bacteria (yuk!)
Cleaning away the footprint of a week
On the possessions of our life.
My wife doesn't know about us
You and me and our OCD
We share for an hour, or so, while she's out
Shopping, drinking coffee, with her mum
Ours is a secret affair
******* cat fur out of the crevices,
When I am done we part company
Hiding our passion behind closed doors
Until we meet again, next saturday
My love.
Jun 17, 2019
Jun 17, 2019 at 6:28 PM UTC
Benny showed me
how to twirl
a toy gun
around my finger.
I managed to do
as he said
although it fell off
my finger a few times
before I did it right.
Mum said
it isn't ladylike
to twirl a gun
around my finger
but I like doing
what Benny does.
I like being
Maid Marian
to his Robin Hood
or Mrs Earp
to his Wyatt Earp.
He showed me
how to fire
a catapult
and knock a tin can
off a wall.
Mum wanted me
to help her
clean up
my little brother
as he kicked so
while she changed
his *****
I had to hold
his little legs
to stop him kicking
and the smell
was yuk.
On Saturday
Benny said we
can go to
the morning matinee
and see films
and cartoons.
I'll have to ask Mum
and see if she
can afford
for me to go.
Benny said
it's 6d.
Mum looked tired
when she said
it was bedtime.
I went to bed
but couldn't get
twirling a toy gun
around my finger
out of my head.
Apr 29, 2017
Apr 29, 2017 at 3:28 AM UTC
Saat dunia menuntutmu, yuk duduk sebentar.
Mungkin kamu lelah dengan tuntutan orang tua mu yang bercita-cita supaya kamu mendapatkan nilai tinggi, atau beban tanggung jawab yang memberatkan pundakmu, atau tuntutan duniawi yang selalu membuatmu resah dengan masa depan, atau melihat kanan kiri ke mereka yang sudah berlari kencang di depan.
Mungkin kamu takut, apa yang akan terjadi di masa akan datang? Apa kamu akan lulus tepat waktu? Apa kamu akan mendapat kerjaan? Apa kamu akan mendapat pasangan?
Sudah, kamu sudah berusaha keras.
Yuk, duduk dulu. Sini bersinggah denganku sambil minum kopi hangat dan menikmati malam yang dekat.
Saat mentari tiba, ayok kita mencoba lagi bersama.
Oct 24, 2018
Oct 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM UTC
We woke up in Oslo;
the sunlight seen
through the slit
when the zip
of the tent was opened.
I breathed in the air
trying to get through
the mustiness of bodies
and stale night air.
How did you sleep?
Dalya asked.
Disturbed mostly.
Why?
Well you were there
and and I was over here,
and you slept so peacefully,
your breathing so regular,
so neat.
She looked around at me
from the zip
and said,
how did that disturb you?
I was wake
and couldn't sleep
and seeing you sleeping
disturbed me.
Why couldn't you sleep?
Too much *****
too much heavy food,
I don't know,
just couldn't get off.
You oughtn't
to be here anyway,
she said,
if the Yank girl
hadn't gone off
into your tent
with the Aussie guy
to do whatever,
you would be there
with him.
What was I to do
sleep out
in the cold night air?
I would have caught
pneumonia or such.
It shocked the ****
out of me
seeing you there
in my tent
when I woke this morning,
Dalya said.
Then I realized
the Yank prat
wasn't here
and put one
and one together.
Don't make a habit of this.
Well, you tell her
to keep out of my tent
and I’ll tell the Aussie
to have his *** elsewhere,
I said.
I'm going for a shower,
she said,
I’ll call out to her
to get out of your tent
on the way
and then you can get
your gear
to shower and dress.
She went out the tent
with her towel
and changed of clothing.
I lay there
in yesterday's clothes,
feeling yuk and tired,
gazing at the scenery
through the slit
of the zip area.
When I entered her tent
the night before
she was asleep,
so I crept to the other side
of the tent and slept
on top of the sleeping bag
of the Yank girl,
only I didn't sleep
too well,
but I watched Dalya,
the sleeping beauty,
sleeping
in her sleeping bag
zipped up and tidy
and blew a kiss
from my palm
which touched
her shoulder.
I always smiled
at that
as I got older.
Jun 26, 2014
Jun 26, 2014 at 1:48 AM UTC
She waited for me
by the water tower
her bike by the hedge
her hands on her hips
her dark hair
hanging loose
untied by ribbons
or bow
I’d finished
my schoolboy work
at the farm
weighting milk
and cleaning out
the cow sheds
been waiting
she said
had to finish my work
I said
you said 1pm
and it's 1.20pm now
she looked at me
with an unhappy face
can't be helped
I said
where we going?
she said
are your parents home?
well my mother is
my father's at work
in the woods
a few miles away
where can we go then?
she said moodily
there's an empty cottage
down the lane
back there
I said
can we get inside?
no it's locked
but there's a shed
she sighed
maybe spiders or such
she said
maybe there are
maybe mice too
yuk don't like them
where to go then?
I said
she got her bike
and we walked towards
the cottage where I lived
must be some place
we can go
she said
I knew what she was after
and I didn't want to
at least not yet
what about the woods?
she asked
must be a quiet spot there
I guess so
I replied
so we walked up the drive
a muddy drive with trees
on either side and bushes
wasn't there a hollow tree
up here somewhere?
she said
that one we went to
a few months back?
I looked ahead
I remembered the last time
I took her there
she started to undress
and I told her it might be
unwise in case
some one came along
she wasn't happy that time
I knew she wanted
to have ***
but what if some one
came along?
I said
she had been moody
for hours afterwards
it's up on the left
I said
can we go there?
what for?
you know
we could have ***
I sighed
is that all
you think about?
when I'm with you
she said
what about nature
the trees
birds
butterflies?
what about them?
just because that other girl
you see is a dull cow
doesn't mean I have to be
she's not dull
she's full of knowledge
about nature
and wild life
O big deal
Lizbeth said
I stopped on the drive
looked back
from where we had come from
well where now?
where's the hollow tree?
up further
on the left
I said
so she walked on
and I followed
studying her swaying hips
and black dress
black stockings
and shoes muddied
by the muddy drive
the hollow tree came up
on our left
and she ran up to it
and went inside
I followed her
determined not to
no matter how much
she moaned and tried.
Sep 23, 2014
Sep 23, 2014 at 6:43 AM UTC
You used it.
Big vision.
A baby grand in duet with lapping waves, me.
When they released her, she looked back.
Fuel for the beasts, and getting late for picking bluebells.
The white space filled up.
Noise for cramming, more.
Yuk, some wrote and others spill without thinking.
A good edit needs many small steps.
Dovetail's detail. Clockwork ambience.
Flew off. Left the heat on. And it's still burning.
New day on gusts awful, blow blow blow your horn.
Jul 21, 2015
Jul 21, 2015 at 9:02 PM UTC
I had a bow
over my shoulder
and threes arrows
tucked in
a mother-made quiver
and was walking over
Meadow Row bomb site
with Janice beside me
-my Maid Marian-
what are you going
to shoot?
she asked
isn't it dangerous?
gran would say
it was dangerous
no the arrows
have got suckers
on the end
they're meant to stick
onto a surface
not enter into it
I said
so what are you going
to hit Benny?
a target on a wall
I tell her
she form an O
with her mouth
what target on a wall?
she said
as we came
to a brick wall
of a bombed out house
here will be the target
I said
she stood and watched
as I drew the outline
of a man with chalk
-a kid always has
a piece of chalk
in his pocket
as well as string
and marbles-
who is it meant to be?
she asked
doesn't look like
anyone I know
it's just a target
an outline of a man
I drew in eyes
nose and mouth
and a heart
and stand back
there is the target
I said
what now?
she said
I stand back a pace or so
and try hit the heart
with an arrow
I said
she nodded her head
so that her fair hair moved
and the red beret shifted
on her head
we walked back
a few paces
over the stones
and rubble
of the bomb site
until we reached
a distant I could hit
the drawn target
I removed the bow
from my shoulder
and took an arrow
from the quiver
and licked the sucker end
of the arrow
then placed the arrow
onto the string
and drew the arrow back
with my fingers
holding the **** firmly
will you hit his heart?
Janice said
I eyed along my arm
and arrow sucker
and at the drawn heart
and released the ****
and the arrow whizzed
through the air
and hit and stuck
to the wall
just on the edge
of the drawn heart
almost got it
Janice said
almost killed him
I walked to the target
and pulled off the arrow
it would have
killed him anyway
I said
can I have ago?
she asked
what if your gran
sees you?
I thought you said
she said it was dangerous?
she did
Janice said
but I won't tell her
I had ago
and she won't see me
what if she did?
I asked
she hesitated
taking the bow
from my hand
and she looked around
the bomb site
and over at the road
over the way
then back along
Meadow Row
satisfied her gran
was not around
she took the bow
from my hand
and the arrow
and attempted to put
the **** end
onto the string
how's it go?
she asked
I showed her
and her thin fingers
held the arrow in place
and the other thin fingers
held the bow
she closed an eye
and looked down
her thin arm
at her other hand
and the sucker end
of the arrow
got it?
I asked
got what?
she asked
the heart in view
I said
no I can't see it
you have
the wrong eye closed
I tell her
o
she said
and closed
the other eye instead
o yes now I see it
she said
as she drew back
the **** end
of the arrow
then she released it
and the arrow shot
through the air
and bounced off
the target
by the drawn head
it didn't stick
she said
you didn't licked
the sucker end
with spit
I said
yuk
she said
and handed me back
the bow
wiping her small hands
on her flowery dress
if gran had seen me
do that
I'd be in
for a good hiding
she said
I walked off
over the rubble
to get my arrow
and she stood watching
with the noon day sun
over her
fair haired head
you'd have killed
maybe
I called over
and said.
Apr 23, 2015
Apr 23, 2015 at 2:23 AM UTC
Helen awakes
to dawn's light.
Tick tock
of hall clock.
Light peeps
through blue curtains
like a nosey child.
What day is it?
she muses.
Monday.
Sighs.
Looks at her doll,
Battered Betty,
beside her
in the bed;
one eye open,
one eye shut,
dressed in
an old grey dress.
Time?
Radio plays
from sitting room.
Music drifts.
Tick tock
of hall clock.
She counts.
Seven fifteen.
Tick tock.
Time to get up.
Sighs.
Pushes back
grey blankets.
Puts her feet
onto the cold
linoleum floor.
Cold.
She sits
on the edge
of her bed;
looks at her toes,
her feet.
She looks back
at Betty.
Lazy girl.
Sighs.
She gets up
and walks
to the window.
Peeps through
the curtains
at day's dull light.
Coldness bites
at her limbs.
She stares
at the wall opposite;
dull coloured bricks.
She can smell
bacon frying.
Breakfast.
She walks across
her room
on cold linoleum.
Opens the door,
goes out
and closes door;
leaves Betty
to sleep.
She walks down
the passage.
Radio plays.
Music filters.
Bacon smell.
Her mother is
at the gas cooker
frying bacon.
Her hair in curlers,
dark hair,
plump features.
Fairies wake you up?
Mother asks.
No, just woke up,
Helen says,
sniffing the air,
looking at
the kitchen/ bathroom.
The table has been lowered
over the bath.
Plates set out.
Wash before food,
Mother says.
Helen takes
the boiled water
in the kettle
to the sink
and places a plug
in the hole
and pours
the water in.
She puts the kettle
back on the stove.
She turns on
the cold tap
and feels
the water get
to the right
temperature.
Turns off the tap.
Rolls up the sleeves
of her night dress
and washes: neck,
face and hands.
Dries on the towel
behind the door.
Go and sit
in the sitting room
and I'll bring in
your breakfast,
Mother says.
Helen walks through
the passage
to the sitting room.
Her father is
at the dining table.
Tea sipping.
Smoking
a cigarette.
Smoke rises
to the ceiling.
She gets that
dull Monday morning,
yuk school,
feeling.
Feb 14, 2015
Feb 14, 2015 at 4:12 AM UTC
As I came
from the Embankment
underground station
towards Charing Cross
I saw Julie standing
looking in
a shop window
she looked thin
in the jeans
and yellow tee-shirt
her hair was drawn back
in a ponytail
she saw me
and walked towards me
thought I’d meet you here
she said
got bored waiting
in Trafalgar Square
ok
I said
good that you're here
we kissed and walked
hand in hand
up to Charing Cross
how are you?
I asked
******
she said
the doctors
have been on my case
all week
and the nurses
have been
breathing down my neck
into everything I do
can't even go
to the bog
without them
standing outside the door
in case I’m shooting up
and are you?
I asked
course not
where am I
going to get anything
to shoot up?
we came to the road
and crossed
at the lights
and into Charing Cross Road
I missed you
she said
missed you too
I said
wish I had
a photo of you
to put by my bed
can't get one
she said
the parents won't bring
a thing from home
unless you have a camera?
no I don't
have a camera
I said
shame
she said
I’m going
to a jazz concert
next week
I said
jazz? yuk
she said
I’d rather
have an enema
who are you seeing?
Charles Lloyd
jazz sax guy
but I can see you
in the day time
it's in the evening
she looked at me
we could try book
into that crazy hotel again
for a few hours
she said
get that same room
and bed
today?
I asked
no next week
she said
OK
I said
I’ll ring through tonight
she smiled
give me something
to look forward to
all week
get me through
the nonsense
with the docs and nurses
we went into
Leicester Square
and into a café
for two coffees
and a slice
of chocolate cake each
and I studied
her face
and small *******
just out of reach.
Apr 9, 2014
Apr 9, 2014 at 2:12 AM UTC
Love the trains
Lydia said
love the smell
me too
I said
we'd gone
to King’s Cross station
and were sitting
watching people
come out of the trains
and getting on
wonder where
they're all going?
she asked
some place nice
I said
but where?
Edinburgh
or York
or Newcastle
how do you know?
she asked
it's written
on the board
back there
I said
she gazed
as passengers passed
us by
a porter went by
pushing a trolley
a man in a bowler
stared at us
as he went by
his nose in the air
my dad works here
sometimes
Lydia said
mostly he's at Waterloo
I looked at her
she was very thin
her lank brown hair
touched the collar
of her off white blouse
she sat there
moving her thin legs
back and forward
I bet that steam train
gets hot by the time
it gets to Edinburgh
I said
bet it does
she said
a steam train made
a loud hissing noise
wish we could go
to Edinburgh
she said
bet it's good there
one day we might
I said
go see the places there
stay in a hotel
she said
have a nice room
wonder if they
have haggis everyday?
I said
and porridge
yuk don't like them
she said
I’d like Cornflakes
or Puffed Wheat
a few people ran
for the train
and then it was all
still as the guard
raised his green flag
and the train began
to hiss and puff
and steam came out
of the train
as it began
to pull away
Lydia waved at it
as it pulled away
and I sniffed
in the steam
and smell
of the train
goodbye people
she said
enjoy Scotland
we stood there
on the platform
watching the train
go off
steam bellowing out
and then it was gone
and we stood there
kind of empty
as if part of us
had gone away
we'll go to Scotland
one day
I said holding
her thin hand
but not today.
Oct 29, 2014
Oct 29, 2014 at 4:14 AM UTC