22 May 2009 am pm

am

a one metre monitor lizard came out
cracking the dry leaf

tongue flicking in out, jabbing the air
trying to catch what it might eat

skin patchy, like an off yellow fungi on a grey tree
walking in the way of a new ballerina

by new chopped papaya tree
pile of dry grass, then away

I thought I might chop an apple
but that would take too long

I call out; frozen, watching, waiting
then away

pm

three agitating sparrows perch
below the air-con unit
on the water pipe

thunder beginning to timpani a way
to a place away
though quite bright, the rain will come

her orange baju kurung hanging
oozing in the air, the new cut garden
waiting for night

two sparrows pick, peck below;
the tree warming up for the rain

Three men in a pub

a jar of ale, a jar of ale, that’s what I like, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, a man’s good mate, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, there’s nothing like a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, after work, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, full gold mug, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, amber glass, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, down in one, my jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, top it up, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, how many’s that, two jars of ale?
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, tastes so good, this jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, cools my throat, this jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, nowt so fresh as a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, hullo, lad, any news,
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, come and sink a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, that’s much better, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, how many’s that, three jars of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, that feels good, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, evening cheer, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, warming up, a jar of ale
a jar of ale, a jar of ale, lost track of how many jars of ale

clippit has a beer
using pen to scratch nose
then tries to peer
at a jar
that seems so far
away

it looks like you’re writing a letter
would you like help..
clear off now, you paperclip male
or I’ll drown you in the jar of ale

if you think this is too long, the story of the jar of ale
you’re fortunate it wasn’t
a jar of Adnam’s original oak cask mellowed traditional Suffolk bitter


or you’d be here for the week…