Halogen Bulbs in the Café

On a grey day
the halogen bulbs in the café
give you migraine
Zig-zag stripes
criss-cross your eyes

You move seats
but reflections dog you
Nothing settles
You act out your best moments
but you can't focus
bang your knee
on the table edge
slop coffee
everywhere

You'd catch
the first train home
but you don't
trust yourself
to be able
to cross the road


~ ~ ~


Someone

tied a loose knot round my waist
let me wander
find my range
then started to choke, shorten

We let you roam
now we want you back

but that cord has broken
only a hard memory now
visceral



~ ~ ~