I sat down and waited in line as
They, one by one
Read out their poems and
Discussed them
A teenager in a blue cardigan
Stood up and read his poem
He said ‘Hello’
Everyone said ‘Hello’ and he read:
‘Evening horns herald me from the deep
Drowsy and drunken double headed sleep
I try to squeeze the dark world from my eyes
Keep my head in a dreamboat when capsized
But lifeguards pull me up, out by my hair
They should have known I was happier down there
Dressing I swim out through the twilight pitch
In search of ice to sooth a burning itch
Your pharmakon anointed on my chest
In lack or excess, it now won’t rest
My heart is played upon a voodun drum
By a loan, boy racer’s stereo hum
Lungs shiver out breath, stolen by Amon.
Even after all times past – the beat goes on’
After the workshop
I said to the teenager
‘Can I have that poem?’
He smiled and said
‘It’s my only copy’
I said ‘Can I have that poem.’
He said O.K. and
Gave me the poem.
As I walked back home
It started to rain
It started to piss it down
I took the folded up poem out
Of my pocket and
Dropped it in a puddle
The paper went blue.
