As they stitch each other upand paint their eyebrows and gloss their lipsdesigner label lovers are as realas the clothes they hang on their hips. The show over, they dinewhere restaurant cooks stir (with a fag in their mouth) behind kitchen doors.As bedtime wardrobe window-dressers, they wake up the next day:Just part-time boutique assistants, where …
Author Archives: aprettykettleofpoetry
The Mermaid Inn
The tide rolls in.The tide rolls out.Seaweed on the rim.Scuttlebutts tossed about. The tide rolls in.The tide rolls out.Flaky boat-varnish wallingrun-down saw-dust flout. A port of sinof by-and-large, and eelpout.The tide rolls in.The tide rolls out.
A Pretty Kettle of Fish
I’m impossibleWanting the implausible.Is it me or is it you?My fishing boat on blue. I’m unshakeable:My resolve unfathomable.Why can’t I sleep?My heart wrecked down deep. While hearing the sirenBait underworld menOld boys in cafesThink out their days. I’m so impregnableBut indefensible.When will it ever finish?A pretty kettle of fish.
Roundheads and Cavaliers
I’m for Parliament. You’re for the King.It’s more important you lose than I win.Taking a stand, there’s no sitting on the fence.I’m for Cromwell. You’re against. Your men, for their cavalry commander, bark.Cocking their legs at Pym, jumping at Charles.Capturing Rupert’s black mongrel, we cut off its lugsAnd make it a Roundhead; A pox on …
Traffic News
In a snap-happy speed-camera cop paradise‘Just Married’ motorists are caught with confetti and riceas, pulling over to the side of the road,The tug-of-war team coach breaks down and is towed. Meanwhile, But I was just about to excuse-makersbecome traffic-warden fined For fuck sakerswith Inland Revenue tax-dodgers on double yellow linesand Monopoly military vehicles landing on …
Prohibition Times
Cracking bottles open is overand them crashing down is on.Days of letting the wine flow are herebut those of drinking it have gone. There’s a lot of cleaning up going on in this Hoover eraas barrels spill their guts out on the floor.The anti-saloon league forbid the knocking back of beerbut bootleggers are pouring in …
Pre-Season Friendly
He met herAnd when he didHe felt he’d metThe girl of his dreams. It was early days yetBut he wanted herAnd was alreadyScheming his schemes. He was over the moonSick as a parrot;Couldn’t believe his luckBut stressed by the intrigue. One thing he knew;He needed the pointsAnd promotion quick;She was out of his league.
Myself to Myself
I’m beside myselfMass-producing miniature clones.Papier-màche marionettesThat look just like me. A matching set of gamblers,Gamesters, holding a handful of playing cards.Poker face opposite poker faceI call my bluff. I don’t let on. Fairground mirrors stretchOut-of-shape my figures of fun.With inward-looking in-jokesI mockingly rib myself. By myself; inside my bedroom,Bizarre boredom multiplies.Working on my tiny toysMaking …
Coffee by the Ghost Office
Other people’s pop lives
Jealously unjealously thanking unthanking lucky unlucky starsNever got to make it to that revolving earthquake stage of rubble amplifiers and smashed up guitars.Carrying no cash, cooped up in city hotel rooms, the drugs, the sex, marriage breakdowns and rock ‘n’ roll.That’s the life to look up to, down on, know and not know. Then there’s …
A Pretty Kettle of Poetry 